Eowyn Ivey’s novel plays out a traditional Russian tale (the Snow Maiden, or Snegurochka) in the harsh yet beautiful world of 1920s Alaska.
In his review for the Washington Post, Ron Charles posits that Faina, the Snow Girl of the title, is “another in the growing crowd of fiercely independent girls we’ve seen in recent fiction including Karen Russell’s “Swamplandia!,” Bonnie Jo Campbell’s “Once Upon a River” and Jesmyn Ward’s “Salvage the Bones.””
We reviewed all of three titles on AB4T, and his comparison prompted me to pick up The Snow Child myself, at last. (Swamplandia! and Once Upon a River were among my personal favorites last year.) What a gorgeous read, and so accessible! Just as The Snow Child is a difficult novel to pigeon-hole (and really, why would we want to?), so is its ideal teen reader. Certainly, a good recommendation for teens who read Once Upon a River and Swamplandia! (where more than one character willfully lives in a sort of fantasy haze, like the couple in The Snow Child). Those who enjoyed The Little Bride by Anna Solomon (another of our best titles of 2011) for its depiction of survival in a pioneering/farming setting should also be encouraged to give this one a try, as should readers who enjoy alternate versions of traditional fairy tales.
As often as teens want the familiarity of a series world, there are teens who want something new. Just yesterday a student came up to my desk raving about Deathless by Catherynne Valente for just that reason. It was unlike anything she had experienced before. (She found it randomly browsing in a bookstore in Canada over spring break and was sure that nothing so different could possible exist in the U.S.!) Strange coincidence — that one also involves Russian folklore.
Finally, I can’t resist sharing two links. First, a lovely book trailer on the author’s website. Second, BBC’s Book at Bedtime has produced an adaptation of The Snow Child narrated by Miranda Richardson. The first of 10 episodes is available on their website, with the others to be added as they air.
IVEY, Eowyn. The Snow Child. 400p. Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-316-17567-8. LC 2011024937.
Adult/High School–The Alaskan territory seems an unlikely haven for Mabel and Jack. Mabel hopes that the peaceful quiet and beauty of nature will offer solitude and solace. She and Jack have never talked about the stillborn baby, their only child. But the middle-aged couple is utterly unprepared for the challenges of homesteading in the harsh wilderness. In a rare moment of playfulness, Mabel and Jack build a snow girl from winter’s first snowfall. Late that night, Jack ventures outside their cabin and catches a glimpse of what appears to be a lost child, darting through the trees. Ivey weaves a rich story built on a yearning so strong that it suddenly becomes palpable. The child, Faina, is a lithe young huntress, a mercurial girl who comes and goes as she pleases. Mabel looks forward to the rare moments spent in her company, offering food, clothing, and a place to rest. But Faina prefers to be out in the cold on the trail of rabbits, marten, and ermine. Meanwhile, Jack befriends George Benson, a miles-away neighbor. Mabel has never met a woman like his wife, Esther, so practical, outspoken, and unladylike. The Bensons offer camaraderie, advice, and connection to the real world. Mabel accepts their friendship cautiously, but when Jack is horribly injured out in the fields, the Bensons send long term help in the form of their son, Garrett. As time goes on, Faina continues to visit, maturing into a beautiful, enigmatic teen. Garrett becomes enchanted by her, introducing a different kind of love and longing. Ivey’s poetically descriptive blend of period realism and classic folk tale will find an audience with sophisticated teen readers.–Paula J. Gallagher, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
Daniel O’Malley’s debut novel is a smart speculative thriller that has echoes of the Jason Bourne novels & movies (secret government organization and an agent suffering amnesia), of The X-Files (secret government organization created to protect the world from the supernatural), of superhero comics (seemingly ordinary people with superpowers), and Ghostbusters (the goofy side of saving the world from…chanting mold, a dragon hatchling, and various other creatures).
It’s a no-brainer for teens, right? Yes and no. Yes, it is very entertaining and overflows with fun ideas and great characters. On the other hand, the pacing lags at times, and it is long, just a couple pages shy of 500. The letters that so wonderfully and gradually reveal the world in which the “new” Myfanwy finds herself do interrupt the present action. There are a couple lengthy set pieces that seem unnecessary to the plot. Perhaps the author simply couldn’t resist?
Of course, many teens who read fantasy enjoy big, fat books. Once they acclimate to an alternate world, they want to immerse themselves. And among those perhaps superfluous set pieces was one of the novel’s most memorable scenes.
Don’t get me wrong, those letters from the “old” to the “new” Myfanwy, and the background they provide about her life, her co-workers, the workings of the Checquy and her role in it are my favorite things about this novel. My favorite part of any superhero or villain has always been the back-story – how did they become what they are? Here, every member of the Checquy has gone through some kind of training and assimilation. In the Great Britain of the novel, any child displaying special…talents is taken from his or her parents. This is not voluntary, and they rarely see each other again. Children are taken to The Estate, a boarding school where their every move is monitored, every talent exploited and heightened. Myfanwy is no different. (Interestingly, the American version of the Checquy gives families a choice. Not all of them want to give up their children. Some are relieved to be rid of them.)
All this makes the book sound so serious. There is a fun book trailer on The Rook website, which captures its humor. And an excerpt is up on Tor.com, which takes it from the top. “Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine.” Is that a fabulous hook, or what?
O’MALLEY, Daniel. The Rook: A Novel. 486p. Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-316-09879-3. LC 2011019741.
Adult/High School–She wakes up in a London park in the pouring rain, surrounded by dead bodies. A letter in her pocket begins, “Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine.” She has a choice–assume Myfanwy Thomas’s identity and investigate what happened, or accept a suitcase full of money and go on the run. She chooses the former and continues reading the letters left to her. She learns that Myfanwy is a Rook, a high-ranking member of the Court of the Checquy, a secret organization that deals with supernatural outbreaks in the U.K. Think of it as a British X-Files, except that its members have supernatural powers. Myfanwy can reach into the minds of her opponents and force them to do her will. She also has terrific administrative and financial skills. She had advanced warning (through a few dubious psychics, including a duck) of her impending memory loss. Or rather, memory theft. She spent a great deal of time investigating, and found evidence of a traitor within the Court. But who? Rook Gestalt, whose four bodies share one mind? Bishop Alrich, the vampire? Lady Farrier, who infiltrates dreams? The traitor has betrayed them to the Checquy’s arch-enemies, the Grafters, a group of mad scientists in Belgium who have been medically transforming human bodies for hundreds of years. The narrative alternates between letters from the original to the current Myfanwy, which provide needed back-story, and the present action, which is full of increasingly bizarre (and at times hilarious) battles against supernatural manifestations. This is a funny, cool, inventive, at times violent and gross trip that teens who are into speculative fiction will thoroughly enjoy.–Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
Certainly one of the most buzzed-about books of the fall, Chad Harbach’s debut is a generous old-fashioned novel of baseball and literature at a small Wisconsin college. Diane’s review really says it all as far as teen appeal goes, so I will leave it to her.
Variety reports that The Art of Fielding has been optioned by HBO for a series.
For more, take a look at this WSJ Speakeasy interview with the author.
HARBACH, Chad. The Art of Fielding. 512p. Little, Brown. 2011. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-316-12669-4. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–When Henry Skrimshander plays shortstop, it’s like watching fine ballet. His mystical ability attracts the attention of Mike Schwartz, a baseball player from tiny Westish College, who acts as the de facto recruiter for the team. So Henry arrives at Westish to begin his freshperson year, armed with his trusty baseball glove, Zero, and his battered copy of The Art of Fielding, written by Henry’s idol, Aparicio Rodriguez. Rodriguez, a legendary shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, holds the record for consecutive errorless games, which Henry may break. If he doesn’t choke, that is. Choking is something of a theme in this wonderful novel. Westish President Affenlight is choking back his love for Henry’s roommate, Owen, a Zenlike boy who is affectionately dubbed “Buddah.” Affenlight’s daughter, Pella, is choking on the challenge of finding her own path after she flees her stifling marriage. And Henry does choke, on the field and in life, as his magical baseball abilities seem to disappear. Teens who like baseball, or any sport, will appreciate the rough camaraderie of the team and the pressure on an athlete to perform perfectly. There is plenty of romance as well. The book is filled with literary allusions, particularly to the works of Melville, but it is also funny, bittersweet, and peppered with kooky plot twists that keep readers entranced. This is a great introduction to modern writers who blend the everyday with the philosophical, such as Jonathan Franzen or Tom Perrotta.–Diane Colson, formerly of New Port Richey Library, FL
Given the recent News of the World phone hacking scandal, the timing could not be better for the release of famed hacker Kevin Mitnick’s memoir. At one point, Mitnick went so far as to eavesdrop on National Security Agency telephone calls.
At times Ghost in the Wires reads like a thriller, not only for computer geeks but for those interested in his years on the run from the FBI, or in knowing how Mitnick was able to manipulate so many people into giving him the information he needed. He was a proficient con man by the age of 17.
Obviously, there are many ethical questions raised here, and the author does not seem to entirely regret his past actions. Mitnick emphasizes that he has a “passion for technology” that led him down a “bumpy road” and that he was in it for the challenge, rather than for profit. As the review suggests, great fodder for discussion.
MITNICK, Kevin & William L. Simon. Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker. 432p. photos. index. Little, Brown. Aug. 2011. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-3160-3770-9. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–Throughout the late 1980s and ‘90s, Mitnick was the world’s most-prolific and most-wanted hacker. He started with “phone phreaking” or diverting phone calls to other switches to get free long distance, or to call forward anonymously, long before this feature was an option to home customers. He accomplished this partly with his natural technical ability and partly with “social engineering,” or talking to people and leading them to offer the classified piece of information he was lacking. Though he spent some time in the juvenile justice system, once he became an adult his hacking grew along with the stakes. He compromised major telecommunications systems and became wanted by the FBI. His time on the run took him from Southern California to Las Vegas to Denver to Raleigh, where he was eventually caught. Though he was guilty of the hacks, he was also a victim of fear and disinformation from people who really didn’t understand this new computer industry. While no one was harmed by his hacks, Mitnick definitely downplays his responsibility and guilt, focusing instead on the injustices of his sentence and the “Free Kevin” movement that took off even before he was captured. He now serves as a computer security consultant, hacking into companies’ systems to better tell them how to protect themselves. Mitnick keeps the technical writing to a fairly understandable level. Computer buffs will love his story, but the ethical questions will make this book highly discussable for any audience.–Jamie Watson, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
It is always challenging to judge teen appeal when a book is set in the not-too-distant past. In this case, at least we aren’t dealing with an adult narrator looking back on her teen years, which is often deadly when it comes to appeal. Rather, Jo Ann Beard writes about teens living in the 1970s. Is this likely to appeal to today’s teens? Or only to adults who can remember the era?
What makes the difference this time is the wonderful teen voice in which the novel is written. Also, one of its main themes is friendship, how growing up changes childhood friendships.
Since most of us are at least as interested in YA literature as adult, I will point out YA author Beth Kephart’s reflection on the novel, which ends with this: “What is young adult literature? What is adult literature? I was never convinced, entirely, that the divisions matter.”
And I enjoyed listening to this interview with the author, “Coming-of-Age with In Zanesville” from The Takeaway.
BEARD, Jo Ann. In Zanesville. 287p. Little, Brown. 2011. Tr $23.99. ISBN 978-0-316-08447-5. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–Step right into the inner life of a 14-year-old girl growing up during the 1970s in the small town of Zanesville, Illinois. Readers only learn that her name is Jo through an oblique reference to the sisters in Little Women. She and her best friend, Felecia, are stuck with the dreadful label late bloomers. Over the course of the novel, however, they begin blooming as they experience the babysitting job from hell, tentative boy interests, and a brush with the popular girls’ clique. Large and small concerns collide for Jo as she ponders her universe. For example, on the same day that she is trying to persuade her mother to let her go to a school football game, Jo is also worried sick that her alcoholic father has shot himself in the basement. Teens who enjoy slice-of-life stories that are submerged in a particular time and place will enjoy Jo’s quirky and perceptive narration. Like Frankie in Carson McCullers’s The Member of the Wedding, Jo is both naïve and wise beyond her years. Readers may note that the narrator has the same name as the author; indeed, Jo Ann Beard has also published an autobiography composed of vignettes from her life, The Boys of My Youth (Little, Brown, 1998). The tone of these two books is similar, encouraging teens who have enjoyed one to read the other.–Diane Colson, New Port Richey Library, FL
The physical creativity and puzzle-like construction of Elena Mauli Shapiro’s debut novel will pique teen interest, as will the embedded QR codes, which enhance the reading experience with online music, food (recipes), maps and 3-D images. Check out the book’s website to view selected “artifacts.”
Interesting to consider what a similar book will look like in a few years (or less). In an ebook the QR codes could be replaced by the ability to click on an embedded link within the book itself, saving those extra steps. I imagine a lot of potential.
The complex narrative and adult storyline of this complicated novel will not exactly invite the teen reader in. But the book’s visual features may well hold their interest long enough for the story to take hold.
SHAPIRO, Elena Mauli. 13, rue Thérèse. 288p. Little, Brown. 2011. Tr $23.99. ISBN 978-0-316-08328-7. LC 2010006269.
Adult/High School–Shapiro based 13, rue Therésè on the real-life experience of receiving a box of ephemera belonging to Louise Brunet, who had occupied the apartment above hers at that address. Shapiro weaves a tale of mystery and love around the objects found inside. Set in both present-day and 1920-1940s Paris, the story follows Trevor Stanton, a visiting professor “gifted” with the box by Josianne, the departmental secretary, as he uncovers the various contents and constructs the story behind them. Louise’s life, loves, and passions intrigue Trevor, and he is drawn into her world in mysterious and compulsive ways. While at first he is rather dispassionate about his discoveries, as the book progresses he is increasingly obsessed, ultimately finding snippets of musical scores and other items that were not part of the original contents. His letters to a mysterious “Sir” regarding the box and Louise’s history become more and more fevered, and by the end of the story he has entered Louise’s world… or has he? Is he truly uncovering her life, or is he imagining the story and subtext? Readers will enjoy puzzling over the objects, many of which are reproduced on the pages of the novel itself. This book will appeal to teens who enjoyed Nick Bantock’s “Griffin and Sabine” books (Chronicle), the movie Amélie, Josten Gaarder’s Sophie’s World (Farrar, 1994) or Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution (Delacorte, 2010).–Laura Pearle, Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY
2010 was an outstanding year for memoir and autobiography by popular musicians. Patti Smith’s Just Kids (Ecco) won the National Book Award for Nonfiction among other accolades. Composed: A Memoir by Rosanne Cash (Viking) received multiple starred reviews. And, later in the year, Life by Keith Richards burst onto bestseller lists. What is particularly impressive about these titles is the quality of the writing, which only adds to their accessibility and appeal.
For teens who watch famous rock musicians and wonder what their lives are really like, Keith Richards provides one man’s very entertaining answer.
RICHARDS, Keith. Life. 566p. Little, Brown. 2010. Tr $29.99. ISBN 978-0-316-03438-8. LC 2010934918.
Adult/High School–Tumbling dice! Richards serves up a rollicking tale featuring four decades of hard-core musical abandon in this bemused, insightful autobiography. From the first pages, which relate a 1975 encounter with rural police in Fordyce, Arkansas, readers are treated to an insider’s account of life as a world-famous rock star. While drugs, violence, groupies, and squabbles with band members are all part of the story, Richards’s primary focus throughout is on the music. The highly publicized events of Rolling Stones’s history are all here (Brian Jones, Altamont, Mick Jagger’s solo excursion), although most teens will be discovering these incidents for the first time. More vital is Richards’s excitement as he explores his music. Teens who know very little of the Stones’s impressive playlist will find themselves downloading songs to hear Richards’s five-string chords, or digging back even further to hear the seductive influence of Muddy Waters and other blues musicians. Richards is neither bragging nor apologetic about his extraordinary life. He is matter-of-fact about the rigors of mastering the guitar, an obsession that was admittedly both enhanced and endangered by his addiction to heroin. As for heroin, he writes bluntly about the way the drugs create personal havoc and horrific withdrawals. This is not a sad story, however. Rather, this book makes a great recommendation for budding musicians or music aficionados with an interest in rock music.–Diane Colson, New Port Richey Library, FL
The Heretic’s Daughter (Little, Brown, 2008) was Kathleen Kent’s debut novel. Set during the Salem Witch Trials, it centers on Martha Carrier and her 10-year-old daughter Sarah.
The Wolves of Andover is a sort of prequel to The Heretic’s Daughter, and features Martha as a young woman.
These books are fictional, of course, but the author is a direct descendant of Martha Carrier, who is an historical figure. Stories about Martha and Thomas (who meet in The Wolves of Andover) were passed down through her family, and inspired Kent to write the novels.
Last week, The Wolves of Andover was named a School Library JournalBest Adult Books 4 Teens, 2010, and today we present the review.
KENT, Kathleen. The Wolves of Andover. unpaged. Little, Brown. 2010. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-316-06862-8. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–Beheading a king makes one either a hero or a wanted man, depending on the context, and in this case, the continent. In this stand-alone prequel to The Heretic’s Daughter (Little, Brown, 2009), the time is 17th-century Massachusetts, and many colonists are still loyal to self-declared Lord Protector Cromwell. Charles II has managed to retake the throne in England, vowing revenge for the beheading of his father. Mercenaries are hired to capture the regicide Thomas Morgan, but first they must locate him, a task made difficult by those loyal to Cromwell and to Thomas. One such person is Martha. Strong-minded and sharp-tongued, she is managing the house for and acting as midwife to her cousin in Billerica, Massachusetts, where Thomas is employed. A shy and deep romance develops between Thomas and Martha, who gradually learns of his past. Though she is unfailingly devoted to him, she may unintentionally be the one to betray him in the end. The rugged setting of colonial America, the opulent royal court, and the gritty streets of London act as perfect backdrops to the twisting plot; the pacing is taut throughout. From the court intrigue of Charles II to the double-crossings of the mercenaries, teens will find the richness of the plot and the strengths and flaws of each character gripping and appealing. Ultimately, this is a story of devotion and loyalty but when circumstances allow, revenge can almost be as sweet.–Amy J. Chow, The Brearley School, New York City
Today we have a coming of age, debut novel. This one stands out for its narrator, who despite a dark & angry point of view, charms the reader with his witty, smart turns of phrase and way of looking at the world.
RATHBONE, Emma. The Patterns of Paper Monsters. 224p. Little, Brown. 2010. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-316-07750-7. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–In “the armpit of North Virginia,” 17-year-old Jacob Higgins is serving time in a juvenile detention center for committing armed robbery. His account of the “Olympic trials of boredom and grudging acquiescence” begin with all the reasons he hates it there. His searing sarcasm and spot-on observations of life’s absurdities simultaneously mask and express his heartbreak, rage, disappointment, and despair. Jacob’s sardonic descriptions of interactions with the JDC staff and inmates contrast with those of his mom and her abusive boyfriend, the latter revealing a sensitivity and vulnerability that Jacob tries to hide. He would rather not have to despise “normal people,” who “all live in town houses next to the mall or the Metro… [are] all thirty-five and use the same products and have really intense cellphones” because he ultimately wants to get out of “this Rubik’s Cube of misguided intentions” and lead a normal life. Much of his time is spent contemplating how to relate to others, how the world should be, and how he’s supposed to be in it–just what all adolescents are trying to figure out. His romantic encounters with fellow inmate Andrea are surprisingly sweet. The intentionally loose plot reflects the aimlessness of Jacob’s life, and the conclusion is satisfyingly realistic and open-ended. Those who loved Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian (Little, Brown, 2007), and are ready for the next step, will find the same humor and truth in this convincing debut novel.–Amy Chow, The Brearley School, New York City
Room has been a challenge for me, both writing the review and presenting the booktalk. First, let me be clear, I loved the book. Like many other folks, I was hesitant to read it knowing the subject matter, but Jack won me over. It was all I could do not to peek ahead in the story, and I NEVER do that.
This is an example of a book that is all about suspense and all about the character narrating the book, a five-year-old named Jack.
How to describe the circumstances without giving too much away?
How to give an example of the language Jack uses, yet not confuse the reader or listener into thinking he is developmentally disabled (which he most certainly is not)?
I booktalked this title twice last week. The first time I left the circumstances a mystery, thinking it would make the listener want to read the book to find out what is going on. No one checked out the book.
The next day, I tried again. I gave the same booktalk, but added one sentence, clarifying exactly what was going on (but not giving away whether Jack and his mother escape their captor). I was mobbed at the end of class, and had to put multiple holds on my copies of the book.
Guess I learned something.
Liz B did a terrific write-up about Room on her SLJ blog next door, A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy . She ended by saying she hoped this book would win an Alex Award. I second that sentiment!
Adult/High School--Room opens on Jack’s fifth birthday. He is very excited, wondering what his treat will be. Jack and Ma live in Room. Jack is a smart, happy little boy who asks tons of questions, and Ma finds a way to explain everything. He loves to read, sing, and tell stories. He loves to measure things and talk to his friend Dora the Explorer on TV. He hates green beans. Ma takes good care of Jack, teaching him to wash his hands often, to stay away from Stove. Her entire focus is on keeping him safe and unaware of their circumstances. Jack is always tucked away in Wardrobe before 9pm every night, before Old Nick arrives for his visits. Slowly readers learn that Ma was abducted years before, and has since had a baby, Jack. She found ways to cope, to make life as normal as possible for Jack. But her captor is becoming unpredictable, and the painkillers she takes for a sore tooth are no longer enough to keep the fever down. Ma starts to talk with Jack about leaving Room, escaping to Outside. Dark as it may sound, this is an uplifting story of love and courage. Through Jack’s eyes, the things we take for granted are extraordinary, the things we worry about ridiculous. But there are also hurts that are too painful. Can Ma and Jack survive on the Outside? Teens will fall for the compelling premise and stay for the heartfelt execution and thrilling writing that give this book natural appeal.—Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
Angela Carstensen is Head Librarian and an Upper School Librarian at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. Angela served on the Alex Awards committee for four years, chairing the 2008 committee, and chaired the first YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adult committee in 2009. Recently, she edited Outstanding Books for the College Bound: Titles and Programs for a New Generation (ALA Editions, 2011). Contact her via Twitter @AngeReads.
