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Big Yikes #167

is it one fool or multiple fools? we say multiple

we also live on instametafacegram

Big Yikes #30 Reboot!

definitely not new but slightly improved

[plus: dudebro’s first appearance!]

also gramming on Insta

Big Yikes #166

i call stet on these sweatpants

yeah, we still live over on Instagram

Cybils YASF Finalist Review: Hearts Still Beating

This is more than just a review of a finalist title–Hearts Still Beating ended up being the winning book this year, after much discussion by the Round 2 panel of judges. You can read the full blurb we wrote (and blurbs for the other winners) on the Cybils website. But as the group blurb alludes to, I was one of those who generally doesn’t gravitate to zombie fiction. I read it every now and then, but it has to be really good–and this one was really good. It follows two narrators, Mara and Rory–former best friends who separated after the world went bad and Mara was infected with a virus that turned her (and many others) into a semi-alive flesh-eating monster that regular humans call a Tick. At the beginning of the story, we find out that Mara has been under treatment for her condition and, as long as she takes her regular dose of antidote, she’ll remain normal-ish…mostly. Unfortunately, when she and Rory find each other again, Rory isn’t quite ready to trust her former friend, let alone act on their feelings hinting at more than just friendship. And then, of course, throw in an antagonist who is on the psychopathic side of things…he was a bit over the top, but certainly compelling and scary, and well suited to this type of story.

Something I liked about this book was the idea of zombies not being actually fully dead, but in a sort of stasis due to an infection, with the possibility of treatment and even a vaccine. It’s an explanation that might appeal to the more science-minded who question the realism of zombies–or, anyway, satisfy such a reader enough for them to suspend their disbelief for the duration of the book (which is usually how it works for me). There was plenty of action to keep things moving, and great setting details; I enjoyed recognizing landmarks in a post-apocalyptic ruined San Diego/Coronado Island. Both narrators were relatable, including the difficult choices they had to make, and there was definitely romance, but not so much that it was distracting; rather, the love between the characters added a variety of complications. Mara’s POV, as an infected person figuring out how to be human again, was particularly convincing and interesting. It reminded me a little of another zombie book I liked, The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey.

Perhaps just as important, the alternating narrators were both distinct and each had their own well-developed story. One of my pet peeves as a reader is losing track of who’s talking when there are multiple narrators because the voices and/or perspectives are too similar. The writing overall was very good, though, and everything seemed well plotted. Thematically, too, there was a lot to sink into in this book. There was some disability representation, in that Rory has to contend with a poorly healed bullet wound to the leg, and arguably, the illness that turns people into Ticks can be viewed through a disability lens. The story also contained a healthy dose of one of my favorite themes in fiction, which is the theme of found and/or chosen family. In a ruined world where so many are dead (or undead), you have to find family where you can, and that is one of the overarching messages I was left with at the end–a hopeful message, I think. All in all, a very impressive book by a debut author.

Source: Dispatches From Wonderland

Big Yikes #165

fun fact: this has happened to both of us

also on Instagram

Big Yikes #164

Dude: Enlightened Idiot

[DUDEBRO IS A CHEAPSKATE]

this comic is also on Instagram

Cybils YASF Finalist Review: Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear

It begins! My annual attempt to put up reviews of my favorite finalists from this year’s Round 2 of the Cybils Awards, in which I participated as a judge for Young Adult Speculative Fiction. Some years I’m better at this than others.

Anyway, on to magic and zombies! the first finalist I’m going to post about (these are in no particular order) is Robin Wasley’s engaging fantasy novel Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear. I quite enjoyed this one–the idea of the undead being created by a failure of magical wards was an intriguing twist, and narrator Sid Spencer was highly relatable. A Korean adoptee, she’s one of very few Asian Americans in her small town (heh, ask my spouse about what that’s like) and, what’s more, she’s one of the few without a magical power to call her own. That’s pretty embarrassing in a town built to protect a magical fault line. Then things start falling apart–literally. Her brother mysteriously disappears, and one of the Guardians of the fault line is murdered, unleashing chaos on the town. Desperate to find her brother, Sid braves the undead, scary vigilantes, a magical forest, and–gasp–friendships and crushes (as if the other stuff wasn’t enough) to help save her world.

The story was action-packed from start to finish, with enough (but not too much) romance and nicely complex friendship and family themes to round it out. The idea of a power changing as the person changes, and being in some way reflective of the person’s soul, is something I really loved. The main character’s background as a Korean adoptee was well handled—not the focus of the story, but still important, and depicted with nuance. Sid’s brother is also a Korean adoptee but is not related to her by blood, and they have a sibling who’s a biological child of their parents. Having known families that are similarly composed of both adopted/foster and biological children, I suspect this is a more common occurrence than people might think, and it deserves representation in books for young readers. Dead Things presented this sensitively and relatably, depicting the idea of family in a number of different ways, from adopted siblings to half-siblings and blended families and step-parents.

I really liked this book overall—I was absorbed by both the ordinary and extraordinary plot developments, and the story’s premise hooked me pretty quickly. Where I got hung up just a little was with respect to how the magic system worked; I had moments of confusion, and occasional questions would pop up in my mind as I read, which is something that tends to take me out of a story. However, that was something that affected me more as a Cybils judge than as a reader, if that makes sense–if I’d just picked this up as a regular reader, it might not have been something to remark upon. (Having said that, this book slipped past my radar last year, so I’m really glad that it was brought to my attention as a finalist!) So, yes, I liked it a lot and think it would appeal to fans of magical fantasy in contemporary settings, as well as readers who enjoy the trope of the ordinary girl who saves the world. (*Raises hand*)

Source: Dispatches From Wonderland

Big Yikes #163

reelin’ in the years!

still on Insta even with all the Zuck Yuck

Big Yikes #162

worser-than-worst-case scenario

how long are we going to be over on that Meta site? who knows?

Big Yikes #161

thankfully not based on a true story

for now you can find big yikes on the I.G.