Annie Cardi's Blog, page 25
August 7, 2014
Ten Reasons Why You Should Read…Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis is book that crosses genre, juggles POVs, and deals with everything from romance to curses to questions of identity. And it all comes together beautifully, with all the feels and thoughtfulness a reader could hope for. Here are a few of my reasons why you should read Otherbound:
1. Nolan
To put it mildly, Nolan’s going through a tough time. He’s been flashing to a fantasy world whenever his eyes are shut, and to everyone around him, it looks like he’s having seizures and hallucinations. Despite the pressure he’s under in both worlds, Nolan is a sensitive person who deeply cares about other people. He’s a character you can’t help but rooting for.
2. Amara
Similarly, Amara’s under a lot of pressure (trying to keep a princess’s magical curse at bay, having Nolan live inside of her, etc.). It’s hard enough to craft one layered main character, but Corinne’s managed to create two. Amara is brave and conflicted and passionate, and easily feels like a classic fantasy heroine.
3. Identity
With two main characters merged together in one body, Corinne brings up interesting questions about what it means to truly exist and own your body, and what kind of control we have over our own lives.
4. Family
Big feels for Nolan’s family. I love that they so obviously care about Nolan and are worried about him, and want to try to help him however they can (even if they have no idea what’s really going on). Pat, Nolan’s sister, is a phenomenal minor character. (Seriously, all the feels.)
5. Big Bads
There are a couple of super creepy, intense moments. Don’t want to spoil anything here, but oh my gosh, stakes get raised on both sides of reality. And even then, I liked seeing how the ‘villains’ and challengers were developed; they were all trying to find some kind of peace, even if it came at another’s expense.
6. Signs
I took ASL in college, so I have major respect for signing as a language. It was really cool to see sign incorporated here as Amara’s method of communication, without it necessarily being a story about a signing experience.
7. Medical Alert
Nolan is dealing with seizures that take him into Amara’s world, and Corinne includes the reality of that kind of situation–the danger of having a seizure, the difficulty of trying to find medication to help, how expensive working with doctors and medications can be.
8. Chases and Escapes
Along with excellent character development and concepts of self, Otherbound includes some good old fashioned excitement. Amara and Cilla are on the run from people trying to kill them and, on yeah, there’s a deadly curse to worry about. Nolan has a hard enough time as it is in the real world without having to deal with stuff like the lines of worlds blurring.
9. Diversity
Otherbound features a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. Obviously Nolan’s dealing with seizures, but he also has a prosthetic leg and is Latino. Amara signs, and is also a WOC and loves a man and a woman (and both relationships feel genuine). None of these features become an “issue” (as in old-school after-school-special “issues”) and are instead just the way these characters exist in the world–which is how it should be.
10. Corinne Duyvis Is Probably a Superhero
If I were going to invent a superhero, it would probably be pretty much exactly like Corinne. She lives in Holland; she writes awesome books and makes awesome art; she’s extremely active in speaking out for diversity in children’s/YA literature (see Disability in Kidlit); and she currently has pink hair. I’m so glad to have gotten to know Corinne through the Fourteenery, and I’m psyched that now readers are getting to know her, too.
Otherbound is now available in all kinds of stores, so go pick it up!
August 1, 2014
Friday Fifteen
Happy Friday, everyone! I can’t believe it’s already the first of August. My brain is still back in June. Let’s catch up with some fifteen-word (or fewer) book reviews.
1. Molly Saves the Day (American Girls: Molly #5) by Valerie Tripp
After I read this, I asked my parents, “Have you ever heard of D-Day?”
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home (Season 8, #1) by Joss Whedon
Only season 8 graphic novel I’ve tried. Weird to see the characters after the finale.
3. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
Brilliant. One of the YAs I recommend to people who don’t think YA is literary.
4. Micro Fiction: An Anthology of Fifty Really Short Stories ed. by Jerome Stern
Read in a class I took on flash fiction. Some were a couple of paragraphs.
5. Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
One of those books that you remember and think “Oh, that was kind of racist.”
July 29, 2014
Because I Didn’t Write About Baby Sea Turtles
My latest short story is up at The Hanging Garden! This cycle’s theme was water, so initially I thought, “Of course I have to do a story that involves baby sea turtles!”
Look at how cute he is! Go, baby sea turtle, go!
But then I heard a news report of a tragic accident that involved a group of teens who went swimming, and immediately I knew that was the kind of story I wanted to write. A lot of times, these kinds of accidents happen to young adults who are doing something vaguely dangerous. 9 times out of 10, no one gets hurt, but that 1 time is disastrous. Your life is safe until it’s very, very not.
Click through to check out the story, and, if you want even more gif-inspired fiction, check out the entire back catalog of Hanging Garden stories.
July 25, 2014
Friday Fifteen
The past week has been super hectic, but I’m psyched to be writing today’s Friday Fifteen. Onto the micro-book-reviews! Happy weekend, everyone.
1. The Rain Catchers by Jean Thesman
A household of women who caught rain to wash their hair. Don’t remember much else.
2. Powerful Paleo Superfoods: The Best Primal-Friendly Foods for Burning Fat, Building Muscle and Optimal Health by Heather Connell and Julia Maranan
I don’t follow Paleo, but great recipes based on real food. Hello, blackberry-glazed salmon!
3. The Ghost at Dawn’s House (The Baby-Sitters Club, #9) by Ann M. Martin
Dawn’s house has a secret passageway, making me jealous forever.
4. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
I would have devoured this even if I didn’t read for the 48-hour book challenge.
5. Dubliners by James Joyce
Ashamed to admit that I don’t remember much of these famous stories. Should try again.
July 16, 2014
Links Galore
Lots of link-y goodness:
Fictional holidays are my favorite; I’d add Harry Potter’s birthday to that list.
I love a good boarding school book.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reads and recommends YA.
The financial reality of being a writer.
Things people say to YA writers–in fact, some of my favorite YA writers!.
Defending Fanny Price.
Everyone loves A Sick Day for Amos McGee.
The amazing Aisha Saeed launches “Ramadan Reads.”
You’ll meet at least one of these annoying writer types in any given workshop.
“Keep your eyes on your own paper.”
How much author visits cost.
Don’t forget to pack your summer vacation reading.
Famous actors, famous poetry.
Meet Livia! Have you picked up your copy of Midnight Thief yet?
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July 15, 2014
Upcoming Events: Buttonwood Books and the Boston Teen Author Festival!
A couple of new and excellent events to add to the calendar!
On Wednesday, August 13 at 7pm, I’ll be at Buttonwood Books in Cohasset, MA with fellow 2014 debut YA author (and all around delightful person) Skylar Dorset. We’ll be [image error]talking about writing, being debut authors, how awesome YA is, and more.
And then on September 27, I’ll be part of the 2014 Boston Teen Author Festival at the Cambridge Public Library. Other authors on this year’s schedule include local favorites like A.C. Gaughen, Sashi Kaufman, Diana Renn, and Erin Dionne; and I might just fangirl myself into a frenzy over fellow Candlewick author M.T. Anderson.
Check out the Appearances and Interviews page for more info, and mark your calendars now!
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July 11, 2014
Friday Fifteen
Happy Friday, everyone! It’s a beautiful Friday here, and I am so happy to be headed into the weekend. Onto the micro-book-reviews!
1. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
The ending made me think “This was about Cameron and her parents,” which I loved.
2. The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4) by Lemony Snicket
I honestly don’t remember much about this one. Before the VFD plot really got going.
3. Henry V by William Shakespeare
The Henrys bleed together for me. I think I need to see them performed.
4. Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
We read this one all the time when I was little. Classic Scarry goodness!
5. Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Glad to be back with Grace and Sam; looking forward to the third book.
The Secret Life of a YA Writer in a Traditional MFA Program
This month at Ploughshares, I’m sharing a little of my experience at a traditional MFA program and ending up a YA writer.
I know other YA writers who went through traditional MFA programs and weren’t as happy with their experiences, but I appreciated having the time to focus on craft and technique. And I think it helped that my program was a little more flexible than most–I got to take classes outside of my genre, and also crossed over a lot with the publishing program.
Obviously you don’t need to get an MFA to be a writer or learn/practice craft. There are a million different ways to be a writer and you have to find what works for you.
Click through to read the full post, and enjoy the Lost gif.
July 10, 2014
YA Readers in Real Life
A little YA humor for your Thursday:
I have to admit, I do totally categorize people by House. (Hufflepuff pride!) I’ve also used the phrase “May the odds be ever in your favor,” in a non-YA-related professional setting.
July 9, 2014
My Interview with Aisha Saeed at Story and Chai
Today’s post comes via Story and Chai, a fantastic website about diverse narratives created by Jennifer Zobair. I’m talking with fellow YA author and agent-sister Aisha Saeed about The Chance You Won’t Return, mental health, writing from outside your own experience, and more.
Aisha asked lots of thoughtful questions, and I’m so glad to have the opportunity to talk about The Chance You Won’t Return and what I hope readers get out of it about Alex and her family’s situation.
Click through to see the full interview, and make sure to check out the rest of Story and Chai!
