Sure, I guess you can lump this in with "If You Liked The Hunger Games...", but it's really more Mad Max than Katniss. The setting is a chao...moreSure, I guess you can lump this in with "If You Liked The Hunger Games...", but it's really more Mad Max than Katniss. The setting is a chaotic post-America. All semblance of order, government, and technology are dead and decaying in the dusty wastelands. 17-year-old Saba lives with her twin brother Lugh, little sister Emmi, and their father in a shack near a dwindling lake. It's the only life she's ever known, having only ever met a few other people and ventured a few miles away from their home. However, Saba's sheltered life is thrown into upheaval when they are unexplicably ambushed, resulting in Lugh being kidnapped. Saba's fierce loyalty to her brother leads her to hit the dusty road on an epic journey to save him. She encounters various obstacles along the way, including temporary enslavement as a cage-fighting gladiator during which she becomes known as "The Angel of Death". You see a quick transformation from naive girl to tough-as-nails survivalist as she punches and kicks her way through. Girl gangs on horses, land ships, maniacal self-proclaimed kings, killer sand worms...Yeah, you'll find all of that here. You'll need to get used to the vernacular though, which has apparently evolved into Appalachian hillbilly. This isn't high-quality literature, but the story is pretty exciting and fun.
Saba is singularly focused on saving her brother, to the point where she's callously negligent of others, including her own helpless little sister. I get that she has to be a badass to survive, but sometimes it's over the top. There is, of course, a love interest who struggles to break through her shell. Jack is a fellow cage fighter who later accompanies her on her quest. Since this is a series-opener, we catch glimpses of a second "bad boy" who will probably later play more of a role in the requisite love triangle. (less)
I remember hearing about this book a while ago and assumed I wouldn't be into it, but when it snuck in with the recent Printz Honor books, I decided t...moreI remember hearing about this book a while ago and assumed I wouldn't be into it, but when it snuck in with the recent Printz Honor books, I decided to give it a try. I'll admit that the first few chapters had me skeptical. What is this, "My Story: A Testimonial from a John Green-y Love Interest"? Yes, Min Green is weird and interesting and obsessive, but she's also a relatable teenage girl. She's angsty, confused, passionate, naive, etc. I found myself amazed at how a middle-aged man was able to make this young female misfit so authentic. Some of her long-winded observational rants felt like they were lifted out of my high school diary. The actual story (and ending in particular) was not mind-blowing, but Min's narration is what really sold it for me.
The story is your typical opposites-attract tale of love and loss. Min Green and her friends are into obscure classic cinema, espresso, and hosting ironic events like "Bitter Sixteen" parties. Ed Slaterton is co-captain of the basketball team, has a new hot girlfriend every few weeks, and frequents keggers in the woods. When Ed unexplainably shows up at one of her parties, Min is surprised to find mutual chemistry between them. It quickly unfolds into a relationship, and they have to learn to adjust to each other's differences. For example, Min has to train Ed to not offensively call things "gay", and Ed has to teach Min how to be a good supportive girlfriend in the stands at his big games. Unfortunately, it was doomed from the start, hence the title. Each chapter opens with an illustration of a sentimental item from their relationship. Min has placed everything in a big box to give back to Ed, and each chapter describes the significance of the item while detailing the rise and fall of their short-lived relationship.
I look forward to seeing what else Handler can do with YA Fiction. (less)
Wow. This creepy tale stays with you. I listened to the audiobook during my daily commute over the course of a few days, and this was one of those boo...moreWow. This creepy tale stays with you. I listened to the audiobook during my daily commute over the course of a few days, and this was one of those books where every night I felt compelled to tell my husband what morbid new things had transpired in the story. Grendel, Lord of the Flies, The Lottery...These stories came to mind, but Nothing was uniquely its own: a strange tale of existentialism, loss of innocence, mob mentality, etc.
The story centers around a class of 7th year Danish students that have all grown up together in a small town. Pierre Anthon climbs a tree one day and decides that he's never coming down because life is meaningless. Every day as the students walk to and from school, he pelts them with apples and shouts at them to abandon all hope. As the students get increasingly aggravated and internally-conflicted, they decide that they are going to build Pierre Anthon a pile of "Meaning" to prove him (and really, themselves) wrong. As they individually begin to add articles of "meaning" to the heap, the process evolves into a sick game where each kid picks a classmate of their choice and tells them what they must put into the pile. The ante is upped in each round, with each request becoming increasingly dark and twisted as the kids react with spite over sacrificing things that they hold dear. Nothing is held sacred, and it's hard not to be mortified with how far things end up going. Meanwhile, it's a fascinating philosophical exploration of the subjective meaning of "meaning".
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Cassia and Ky have both escaped from the Society, and they are zigzagging through the Carving (presumably the southwestern US) with new travel compani...moreCassia and Ky have both escaped from the Society, and they are zigzagging through the Carving (presumably the southwestern US) with new travel companions, desperate to find one another. This time we get alternating chapters narrated by Cassia and Ky. Will their paths finally cross? Will they find the information that they've searching for about the Rising, the Society, and their pasts? Will they ever stop reciting the same corny poetry? And what's up with Xander? Will we see any of the rising pulse-pounding action that we should be seeing in book 2 of a dystopian trilogy?
I don't want to spoil too much for you, so I'll just answer the last question: No. This was a bit of a snooze-fest filler book for me, which is not what you want to see for books in this genre. Far too much time was spent on the characters meandering about the Carving and its descriptive imagery while they melodramatically pine for one another, and not enough time was spent developing the story and asking/answering any questions. Book 3, you've got some heavy-lifting to do... (less)
Sadly, I wouldn't say that this is the definitive guide to vegan pregnancy (I still find myself thumbing through other general pregnancy & vegan books...moreSadly, I wouldn't say that this is the definitive guide to vegan pregnancy (I still find myself thumbing through other general pregnancy & vegan books to find answers to my questions), but it's certainly a good place to start, and it fills a much-needed niche. Surprisingly, much of the book is just general info about pregnancy. Since there are a gazillion other pregnancy books out there, I was hoping it would dig a bit deeper into vegan-specific issues like nutrition planning, sample menus & recipes, medications & treatments, etc. (less)
Poor little Liesl has been locked in the attic for months by her evil stepmother. When her sick father finally dies, she is comforted by an unexpected...morePoor little Liesl has been locked in the attic for months by her evil stepmother. When her sick father finally dies, she is comforted by an unexpected guest: a small (and non-gendered) ghost named Po. Meanwhile across town, a sorceror's young apprentice named Will has botched what was supposed to be the delivery of a small box containing the most powerful magic in the world. When their paths finally cross, they embark on a dangerous journey with Po at their side.
I've read both of Lauren Oliver's YA novels, which I enjoyed (especially Before I Fall), but I had a harder time getting into this middle grade novel. The story was somewhat engaging and sweet, but it felt unbalanced with too much description of the mundane and not enough backstory into the important stuff. For example, they gloss over the fact that the sun hasn't come out in several years. This seems like more than just a minor descriptive detail and something that should influence the story a bit more than it did. Also, while I could certainly appreciate the influence of authors like Grimm, Dickens, Dahl, etc, some elements were a bit over-inspired, such as her occasional Snicket-esque asides to the reader which were mostly awkward and out-of-place. Overall, I was mostly reminded of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, but when putting those two books head-to-head, Gaiman wins hands-down.(less)
Jimmy is a 25-year-old man-boy, living at home with his mom and working at the Oakland Public Library, blissfully naive and content. He has a hip writ...moreJimmy is a 25-year-old man-boy, living at home with his mom and working at the Oakland Public Library, blissfully naive and content. He has a hip writer friend named Sara, who breaks the news one day that she's moving to NYC to pursue her writing career. Turns out poor Jimmy is in love with her, so he writes her a corny letter telling her that he's on his way, and that he'd like to meet her on the top of the Empire State Building, "Sleepless in Seattle" style. Unfortunately, life doesn't always turn out like a 90's Meg Ryan romcom.
There were little elements of the story that I liked, such as the cross-country bus trip, his library job, and some of the comedic exchanges, as well as the use of color to indicate past and present, but overall this felt a bit flat and rushed. Granted, it's difficult to do a lot of plot and character development in a short graphic novel, but I didn't feel all that invested in the story and its outcome.
Blake is your typical middle-class American teenage boy. He lives in Portland, OR with his parents and his jocky older brother Garrett, and he recentl...moreBlake is your typical middle-class American teenage boy. He lives in Portland, OR with his parents and his jocky older brother Garrett, and he recently acquired a sweet GF named Shannon. Among the standard teenage boy fare, Blake's hobbies include photography and cracking jokes. He secretly keeps a mental tally of how many daily laughs he gets from his sarcastic quips in hopes that he'll be a stand-up comic someday. Life seems great until one day in Photo class, Blake shows one of his gritty pictures taken in Old Town to his friend Marissa. They're both shocked to discover that the bedraggled passed-out drug addict in the photo is Marissa's mom, who's been missing for over a year. Suddenly Blake finds himself thrust in the middle of Marissa's family troubles, and he finds it increasingly hard to balance being Shannon's "BF" with being there for Marissa during an incredibly tough time.
It was really sad to learn that this author recently passed away from cancer after publishing just 2 books, including this one which won the Morris Debut Award last year. I would've loved to see what else she would've done. I found Blake to be ridiculously real and honest, to the point where this book deftly serves two teen audiences: guys looking for some "dude-lit" with a relatable voice, and gals looking to get inside the mysterious head of the teenage boy. I loved his internal dialogue as he struggled to decipher Shannon's various moods. "Uh oh, she's freaking out. Houston, we have a problem. Do I hug her? Kiss her? Leave her alone?" Despite his adolescent bumbling through various emotional trials, the reader always understands that his intentions are good, which leaves him likable throughout the increasingly-tense story. The ending was pretty abrupt, but overall I really enjoyed this. (less)
Oh my. Where do I begin? This book straddles three and four stars just like the story, which walks a fine line between pretentious pish-posh and quirk...moreOh my. Where do I begin? This book straddles three and four stars just like the story, which walks a fine line between pretentious pish-posh and quirky endearment. First things first, we must suspend any disbelief with this here tale of "missed connections" unconventional comedic romance, complete with a very Wes Anderson-esque cast of unbelievable characters. Don't for a second think that these folks are real, and just appreciate them as fun caricatures. Case in point: Great-Aunt Ida, aka "Mrs. Basil E." (as in Frankweiler), the saucy old broad in her burgundy velvet-lined Manhattan old-wealth brownstone. Captain, we're looking at some dangerous QuirkCon levels here. Did I mention that it's a Christmas story?
My own facetiousness aside, overall I'll commit to saying that the story is cute. There, I said it. The story opens with snarly well-read word-nerd hipster Dash finding a mysterious notebook between the volumes of Salinger (because WHERE ELSE would it be??), which he opens to find inside a series of challenges. He completes the scavenger hunt and returns the notebook to the bookstore clerk, who in turn delivers it back to the notebook's owner. Enter Lily. Aside from being inexplicably good at soccer, she is dorky, genuine, cheery, blissfully-naive, and all other pleasant synonyms for quirky, which subsequently is henceforth banned from all remaining sentences of this review. I picture Luna Lovegood in black glasses and a not-intentionally-ironic Xmas sweater and majorette boots, traipsing around Central Park petting dogs and delivering homemade ginger snaps to old people. As the notebook gets passed back and forth in increasingly-complicated series of dares intentionally designed to keep them from meeting, Dash and Lily both wonder if the person on the other end of the notebook is really all they've been hoping for. As their quir..err..eccentric friends and family ("Boomer", gay Orthodox Jew couple Yohnny & Dov, Mrs. Basil E., lovesick Grandpa, beautiful Sofia from Spain, etc) begin to meddle and get involved, it seems as though their PostSecret love is doomed. But it's Christmas in NYC, which movies tell me is the stuff that miracles are made of, so anything's possible.
I like these authors, and I like when they write books together, so I've decided to lean towards 4 stars, despite the various cringe-worthy moments. I would imagine that this book is best enjoyed during the holiday season, perhaps on mass transit with hot coffee, or under a snuggly blanket on a lazy day off. (less)
The Adoration of Jenna Fox was an excellent "sci-fi lite" novel that focused primarily on Jenna's emotional and ethical struggles to come to...moreThe Adoration of Jenna Fox was an excellent "sci-fi lite" novel that focused primarily on Jenna's emotional and ethical struggles to come to terms with herself and her new life after she wakes up from a presumably-fatal accident in a new biotech body. The novel seemed pretty self-contained, which was why I was curious to see what they would do with a sequel. Now we've got The Fox Inheritance, which is set 260 years in the future (yikes!). Remember Jenna's friends Locke and Kara? Turns out their backups were saved after all these years, and after downloading into new synthetic bodies, they are waking up to a strange new world. Everything from their old life is gone, except that is for the still-ticking Jenna Fox. Where can they find her? Who can they trust? Can they even trust each other?
I didn't expect much, so therefore I wasn't really let down. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but not nearly as good as the first novel. Locke as the sole narrator was a bit flat and one-dimensional; it would've been so much better if they had done multiple narrators with Jenna, Locke, Kara, (and even Dot...That would've been cool). The story has morphed from Jenna's internal struggle to what appears to be a larger, more dystopian conflict, which is what I assume that they'll continue to explore in a third novel. (less)
Some great information here, but honestly I ended up skimming through quite a bit. I think the book might be more helpful and reassuring for couples p...moreSome great information here, but honestly I ended up skimming through quite a bit. I think the book might be more helpful and reassuring for couples potentially facing an "at-risk" pregnancy. There is a lot of information about pre-existing conditions and how they factor in to pregnancy. I found the chapters about nutrition, exercise, and fertility particularly useful. Most pregnancy books seem to have a brief intro chapter for us studious ladies that like to read up before the big assignment, so it was nice to get some more details and insight beyond just the usual "quit smoking & drinking, eat healthy, exercise regularly, and have sex during ovulation."(less)
What Happened to Goodbye tells the story of McLean, a high school senior who has been to four schools in the last two years, and subsequently, has ass...moreWhat Happened to Goodbye tells the story of McLean, a high school senior who has been to four schools in the last two years, and subsequently, has assumed four different personas. First it was cheerleader Eliza, then drama club Lizbet, then preppy Beth, and now finally back to average girl McLean. But after her parent's messy divorce and all of the moving around that she's done with her dad and his restaurant contracting job, McLean's not sure who she really is anymore. Enter the cast of colorful characters in her new town: the staff at Luna Blue restaurant, her new friends at school, and Dave, her dorky yet charming neighbor. Will McLean let her guard down and allow herself to plant enough roots to make connections and come to terms with who she really is? Or should she not bother unpacking so she'll be ready to move to the next town? None of the drama was earth-shattering, but it was a fun, clean, and simple story with an obligatory happy ending.
I appreciate Sarah Dessen and her ability to rope teens and adults in with relatable characters, light-hearted drama, and quirky romance. Heck, this is what, my 3rd or 4th Dessen novel?! I am inadvertently now a fan, even catching the little easter egg references to her other books that she embeds in her stories. For whatever reason, I find these audiobooks soothing and comforting during my commute, a much-need mental break from the stresses of work and the heaviness of some of the other dystopian and problem-novel stuff I tend to read (in this case, simultaneously reading the gritty "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi). (less)
Nailer works as a ship breaker along the decimated Gulf Coast in a dystopian future devoid of oil. Nailer and his fellow crew of hardened orphans and ...moreNailer works as a ship breaker along the decimated Gulf Coast in a dystopian future devoid of oil. Nailer and his fellow crew of hardened orphans and urchins pick apart old ships in search of bits of copper, brass, and the ultimate scavenge, deposits of oil. His life is dangerous and hard, and his drug-addicted, abusive hustler of a father doesn't make it any easier. When Nailer stumbles upon a pocket of oil in an old tanker, he thinks that life may start to get better. However, when a brutal hurricane washes a luxurious clipper ship ashore, a scavenger's dream, Nailer knows that his luck really is about to change. It's not until he discovers a beautiful and wealthy passenger aboard that he begins to question what kind of luck that will be. Can Nita offer him a better life, or will she just lead him to unimaginable danger?
The dystopian setting of a post-oil wasteland felt almost plausible, but the story focuses on such a narrow cross-section that you're really not given much background at all outside of Nailer's tiny perspective. But hey, that's the stuff that openers to dystopian trilogies are made of, eh? It's kind of sad that this formula that I used to find so exciting has become so predictable and dime-a-ddozen at this point....Book 1: The humble hero emerges and experiences tragedy in an unjust world, Book 2: The scope zooms out and we see the corrupt puppeteers behind it all, Book 3: The hero valiantly fights to BRING IT ALL DOWN! But I digress. Overall, I'd say this was pretty good, but I'm a bit surprised with the Printz win. I guess they HAD to choose a dystopian novel given the overbearing trend, but it wouldn't have been my choice over the others. (less)
There are a heap of sad "my best friend killed him/herself" YA books out there, but this one stands out. I thought it was very well done. Ca...moreThere are a heap of sad "my best friend killed him/herself" YA books out there, but this one stands out. I thought it was very well done. Caitlin is devastated over the loss of her best friend Ingrid, who we get to know a little through snippets and drawings from the journal she left behind. At first Caitlin has no way to navigate through her grief, but eventually she begins to find her way thanks to her creative outlets and the supportive people around her. The story was undeniably sad but not melodramatic; the characters and their actions felt believable and not overly glorified and/or vilified. I felt like Caitlin and her friends were friends that I would've had in high school, which made the story all the more sad and real for me. (less)
Disgustingly fascinating graphic novel about a STD that is turning teens into mutants in 1970's Seattle. Certainly not for the "faint of heart"...moreDisgustingly fascinating graphic novel about a STD that is turning teens into mutants in 1970's Seattle. Certainly not for the "faint of heart". Don't read it in the break room at work unless you want to explain to your co-workers why you are reading comics about teens with tails and mouths on their necks having full-frontal sex. The illustrations are dark and and surreal and creepy-sexual. I felt like a kid trying to hide a dirty magazine from the teacher. Recommended for fans of weird comix like Crumb and Daniel Clowes.(less)
A hit-or-miss hodgepodge of randomness, with some stuff that that I did indeed find funny and/or well-written, and other stuff that I found to be just...moreA hit-or-miss hodgepodge of randomness, with some stuff that that I did indeed find funny and/or well-written, and other stuff that I found to be just so-so. (less)
I read about this book recently in VegNews and decided to check it out. This visually-appealing and easy-to-read book is full of information about tra...moreI read about this book recently in VegNews and decided to check it out. This visually-appealing and easy-to-read book is full of information about transitioning to a healthy, mostly-raw vegan lifestyle, including a 21-day cleanse for people seeking a more prescribed set of instructions to get started. But this isn't some fad cabbage soup diet. The author is providing lots of scientific data and personal insight from her own remarkable battle against cancer to compel people to permanently make healthier choices for a long and happy life.
As a self-professed "muffin vegan" (a term Carr uses to describe the muffin-top she develops when eating like us good-intentioned vegans/vegetarians who end up turning to veggie junk food), I totally need this book. I've been vegan for a long time, so I've read up on various healthy stuff like raw foods, fasting, even icky stuff like enemas and colonics, etc. I've dined out on and made my own delicious raw meals here and there. I already own a juicer and a dehydrator, thus demonstrating my various attempts at raw foods over the years. But alas, my vegan diet is not always the picture of health. I eat junk like Oreos and fake meat crap sometimes. What I appreciate most about this book from my particular standpoint is the fact that she's done all of the work for me by compiling all of the good things that I *should* be doing and giving me lots of convincing reasons why. It's a non-violent kick in the hippie pants to re-examine my food choices. I'm gunna go drink some juice now. (less)
Yikes. I really don't know how to rate this book at all so I'll stick with a safe 3 stars. Did I hate it? Was it well-written? Who knows. I don't. All...moreYikes. I really don't know how to rate this book at all so I'll stick with a safe 3 stars. Did I hate it? Was it well-written? Who knows. I don't. All I really know is that at times, the imagery (both described and alluded) was so unsettling and disgusting that I felt sick. "Alice" is a kidnapped 15-year-old girl that has been living with her pedophile captor Ray for 5 years, enduring constant psychological and physical torture, and she is so broken and far gone that you can't help but lament that there would likely be no hope for her, even if she was saved. (I won't tell you whether or not that happens). She calls herself a "living dead girl", and she is anxiously waiting not for her escape but for her death, when Ray will finally replace her with a new "Alice". Alice's first-person narrative is choppy and raw, slipping between memories of her past and her terrifying present. But does all of this equal a good book??
After reading other reviews, I have to agree that for me, this felt more like watching a gross-out horror movie like Saw or The Hills Have Eyes than reading a compelling or meaningful story. Ray represents one of the most disgusting manifestations of human evil, and this book felt mostly like a front row seat to his sickness. "Alice" is his broken shell, a victim so shattered that signs of his evil are even beginning to manifest in her. And no, I don't think that every book needs to have a heroine in shining armor or a happy rainbow at the end. I had trouble though understanding what the point was beyond simply illuminating the possibilities of evil and the extent to which someone can become so broken. (less)
High school junior Jessica wakes up in the hospital to find that the lower half of her leg is gone, destroyed in a horrible bus accident that also cla...moreHigh school junior Jessica wakes up in the hospital to find that the lower half of her leg is gone, destroyed in a horrible bus accident that also claimed the life of one of her track teammates. Jessica is devastated. Running meant everything to her, and now she can't even get up to go to the bathroom. However, her will is strong, and with the help of her loving family and friends, she is quickly on the road to recovery and to walking once again with her new prosthetic leg. But will Jessica ever run again?
As someone who also loves running and gets what that runner's high feeling is all about, I understood how much running meant to Jessica and how crushing it would feel to have it taken away. Despite the odds and the expected setbacks, Jessica is inspiring and full of hope. While still recovering and confined to a wheelchair, Jessica ends up befriending a girl with cerebral palsy in her math class named Rosa, and as they become good friends, Jessica makes the connection that like Jessica, Rosa wants to be seen as Rosa, not as the girl with a disability. This element of the story seemed a bit sappy to me, but you don't have to trust an often-too-cynical jerkbag like me.
While losing a limb would surely be an awful tragedy, this story ends up being a feel-good "best case scenario" of what would happen in the aftermath of such a terrible event. I also found the bits about Jessica's recovery and prosthesis to be really informative. I'm sure this story will inspire teens to be thankful for what they have and to hopefully reach out to others. I just know that when I finished the book, I was happy to put on my running shoes the next day and pound a few miles.(less)
As a resourceful librarian planning for vegan motherhood, I have been scouring the slim pickings out there to see if a definitive guide for vegetarian...moreAs a resourceful librarian planning for vegan motherhood, I have been scouring the slim pickings out there to see if a definitive guide for vegetarian/vegan pregnancy exists. While this is the closest title you will likely find, sadly I cannot recommend this as a definitive guide for non-newbie vegetarians/vegans like me that just want some solid information and reassurance for the months before, during, and after pregnancy. I didn't care for the disjointed and often repetitive Q&A format, the hippie Earth Goddess stuff, and the Veg 101 stuff that I've read a million times before. There were a few useful things here and there to use when meal-planning, but a lot of the information cited seems old and incomplete. That doesn't bring much piece of mind. General and more up-to-date pregnancy books like Eating for Pregnancy or even What to Expect have plenty of information that I've found to be more useful, and many even include special sidenotes or chapters for veg adaptations. My advice for other folks like me is to just be as well-read and informed as possible through a variety of sources.(less)
Them old ladies everywhere are clasping their white-gloved hands to their hearts and swooning over the Major, Western society's last true gentleman. I...moreThem old ladies everywhere are clasping their white-gloved hands to their hearts and swooning over the Major, Western society's last true gentleman. I typically read books about depraved youth so I wasn't sure how this polar opposite would fare, but the enhancement of the audiobook experience made it fun. The actor truly brings the stodgy, dry-humored old Major Pettigrew to life, and I found myself chuckling at the overwhelmingly Britishness of it all. Hunting expeditions, lords of the manor, society ladies, boorish Americans, "Rose Lodge", Kipling...It's all here. Apparently the English countryside drama is a whole genre about which I know nothing, but from what I've heard, Simonson puts a slight spin on it by introducing subtle themes of racial tension, urban development, youngsters with their new-fangled technology, etc.
Major Pettigrew is a widow living the quiet life in the English countryside when the death of his brother stirs him to reach out and seek companionship from Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper in town. Her sincerity and love of literature endear the Major, and he falls for her, despite the various odds like family troubles, racist rumblings, a developer's threat to their town, etc. I have to give the old dog some props for cutting a bit loose at the end and rolling up the sleeves of his tweed coat to follow his heart, despite what is polite and proper. But that's what a true gentleman in love must surely do, is it not?(less)
A good, much-needed addition to the small but slowly-growing collection of YA Lit about transgender teens. Due to the quality of information contained...moreA good, much-needed addition to the small but slowly-growing collection of YA Lit about transgender teens. Due to the quality of information contained within the story, I would recommend this one over Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger for anyone looking for a good (and eye-opening) story about a FTM trans teen. J, a 17-year-old mixed-race teen living in NYC, struggles to reveal his true self to his family and friends. J turns to photography as an outlet for expression, but like everything else about himself, fears sharing it with others. After suffering through much frustration and anger with his confused parents and best friend Melissa, J is fortunate to find a supportive network of people and resources to help him begin to openly transition and make peace with his identity. It's no easy journey, but J is determined and brave with the help of old and new family.
The terminology and concepts of gender introduced will be assuring for teens in question and enlightening for anyone seeking to understand. While the author herself is not trans-identified, she has written nonfiction books on the topic, and she has a trans foster daughter and a gender-variant partner. Her understanding and expertise really come through, and her resources included serve as a great starting point for anyone wishing to learn more. (less)
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