Alone by Megan E. Freeman

 

Last week, I read Alone by Megan E. Freeman. This adventurous novel-in-verse is about Maddie Harrison, a twelve-year-old girl who goes to her grandparents' apartment for a secret sleepover even though her friends have to cancel on her. In the morning, she wakes up all alone when her hometown of Millerville, Colorado, has been mysteriously evacuated. Over the next few days, she loses electricity and running water and has to figure out how to survive with no one else to rely on. Although all the people are gone, pets have been left behind and she befriends a neighbor's dog, George. Over the next few years, Madde faces looters, natural disasters, and wild animals, but most of all she wonders how she can survive her growing loneliness.

This novel-in-verse was as breathtaking as it was heartbreaking. I really enjoyed Maddie's tale of survival, though. I loved how brave and stubborn she was, and the challenges she faced were incredibly scary and suspenseful. I especially found it frightening that the reason for the evacuation wasn't revealed until the very end of the story. Although I'm an adult, I have no idea how I could survive on my own without electricity and running water, like Maddie did. It's truly admirable how she rose to the occasion again and again when there was a series of natural disasters in her hometown and I'm glad she had George for company. I wondered if she would ever see her family again, but I hoped she would even if the pages leading to the end had me holding my breath. If you like adventure and survival stories, I can't recommend Alone enough. It's an amazing tale of never losing hope even when the odds are stacked against you.

At Midnight edited by Dahlia Adler and Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman

 

On Friday, I finished reading At Midnight: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined edited by Dahlia Adler. The fifteen short stories by popular young adult authors in this collection are based on fairy tales by E. T. A. Hoffman, the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and Charles Perrault. Some of them are fantastical in nature, like "In the Forests of the Night" by Gita Trelease and "The Littlest Mermaid" by Meredith Russo but others are realistic, such as "Mother's Mirror" by H. E. Edgmon and "HEA" by Alex London. Along with the fifteen short stories, this collection includes the original tales in the back of the book.

I was really looking forward to reading this collection because I've enjoyed fairy tales since I was a little girl, and it was a delight from beginning to end. I loved each author's individual take on a fairy tale and how much diversity there was in this collection. Some of my favorites were "Say My Name" by Dahlia Adler ("Rumpelstiltskin"), "Fire and Rhinestone" by Stacey Lee ("The Little Match Girl"), "Coyote in High-Top Sneakers" by Darcie Little Badger ("The Master Cast, or Puss in Boots"), "The Sister Switch" by Melissa Albert (the one completely original tale in the collection), "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" by Hafsah Faizal ("Little Red-Cap"), and "Just a Little Bite" by Roselle Lim, but I recommend reading all of them. This collection is a fabulous choice for anyone who likes fairy tales.

Yesterday, I finished reading Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman. This historical fiction novel taking place during the summer of 1987 in Venice, California, is about a ten-year-old girl, Bug Contreras, who feels like her summer is ruined when her mom informs her that her brother, Danny, wants some space and she won't be able to go with him every day to the beach. Instead, she has the option to hang out with their upstairs neighbor Phillip's nephew, Frankie. Although Bug doesn't like Frankie at first, they bond while investigating a local serial killer, the Midnight Marauder. As the summer goes by, they learn the importance of being your true self and how to make the world a more just place.

I was excited to read this novel because I knew it mixed elements of historical fiction and mystery, but I was surprised by how well it incorporated social justice issues, including racism and homophobia. While Bug could be a little annoying at first because of her childish reactions to not being able to hang out with her brother over the summer, she grows a great deal as she learns important lessons over summer when she witnesses and experiences injustices. I especially loved the friendship that forms between her and Frankie. It was beautiful how accepting and supportive they were of each other and the ending was bittersweet when Frankie had to go home to Ohio. Frankie & Bug is a wonderful book demonstrating the importance of being an ally and standing up to injustice and anyone should read it.

My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee

 

Last week, I read My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee. This realistic fiction novel is about a twelve-year-old girl, Zinny Manning, whose older brother, Gabriel, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder after he gets in a car accident at college. Afterwards, her parents make Zinny, her older sister, Scarlett, and her younger brother, Aiden, promise to keep Gabriel's condition "private", which Zinny interprets to mean "secret". As the months go by, Zinny feels like she can't talk about it with her friends or Lunch Club, a group run by the school's guidance counselor that she finds herself invited to. Meanwhile, she enjoys science class, especially when her teacher, Ms. Molina, has them do a unit on crayfish. She even visits during lunch time to help out. After Ms. Molina presents Zinny with an opportunity to attend a marine biology summer program, Zinny has to determine if and how she can move forward when her family and Gabriel still need her help.

I just have to say that this was an incredible novel. I especially related to what Zinny experiencing because my mom's cousin struggled with bipolar disorder. It can definitely be challenging for the family of someone who is struggling with mental illness to cope with the highs and lows, and there's also a stigma against talking about mental illness which I thought My Life in the Fish Tank presented very well. The story does have flashbacks, which I really enjoyed, because they showed how awesome Gabriel could be, while at the same time showing the initial signs of his mental health struggles. It made me wonder if Zinny and Gabriel's parents should have noticed he needed help before he hurt himself, though. Although I know from my family's experiences that mental illness doesn't always have a happy ending, I loved that this novel had a hopeful ending. Everyone should read this novel, especially if they know someone who's struggling with mental illness.

Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul

 

The past couple days, I read Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul from the best-seller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. This nonfiction book is about the history of racist ideas, how they still impact America in the present, and those who have fought racism with antiracism. It also explains the importance of talking about race and the difference between racist, assimilationist, and antiracist thoughts.

I've been looking forward to reading one of the three versions of Stamped, so I was excited that the kids version was on the Rebecca Caudill list for this school year. Although this book covers a tough topic to talk about, it is written in a way that is accessible for students in middle and elementary school. I especially liked how the chapters were organized like a timeline going from the 1400s to the present because it made it easy to see how the present is connected to the past and how sometimes the past repeats itself. The information was definitely enlightening, and I was encouraged by the messages that people can change and it's important to actively participate to make a difference instead of taking performative actions on social media. I also enjoyed the illustrations by Rachelle Baker. Additionally, the back matter includes a timeline, a glossary, and further reading. Everyone should read this book whether it's the kids version reviewed in this blog entry, the remix version for young adults (Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi), or the original version Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.

Summer Reading 2023

  

Welcome back to school, everyone! Here is an update of the books I've read since the middle of June. First, I read all five books of the Spiderwick Chronicles series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black: The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda's Secret, The Ironwood Tree, and The Wrath of Mulgarath. This fantasy series is about Jared; his twin brother, Simon; and their older sister, Mallory who find a mysterious field guide after they move into an old mansion. When unusual things begin happening, they discover the magical and dangerous world of faerie. In each book, they go on a different adventure before having to face and defeat the dreaded ogre, Mulgarath, and his goblin army in the finale. If you like fast-paced fantasy, I highly recommend this series.

 

In June, I also read Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. This realistic novel-in-verse is about two teenage girls, Camino Rios and Yahaira Rios, who discover that they're sisters after their father dies in a devastating plane crash going from New York City to the Dominican Republic. Coping with the loss of Papi and the truth of his double life, Camino and Yahaira have to decide if they want to know more about each other and be a part of each other's lives. This novel began tragically, but I enjoyed trying to figure out the connection between the Camino and Yahaira before it was fully revealed. I definitely liked how they gradually learned to trust each other. This novel-in-verse is beautiful, and anyone who likes stories of loss and forgiveness should read it.

By the start of July, I read The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black. This paranormal fantasy, taking place in a world with walled cities called Coldtowns where vampires and humans live together, is about a teenage girl, Tana, who wakes up one morning after a party in a house full of corpses. While exploring the house, she discovers two other survivors: her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, who is infected and a mysterious boy, Gavriel, who has a secret. To save the three of them, she decides to go to the nearest Coldtown where there is no guarantee of getting out again. While reading this book, I enjoyed the suspense of the plot and the small dose of romance. I just wish it had a sequel because the end left me wanting more. This book is excellent for anyone who enjoys horror and fantasy, especially vampire tales.

The next book I read in July was Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castelucci. This short story collection has tales about all sorts of geeks, including science fiction fans, fan fiction authors, cosplayers, and more. It also includes illustrations by comic book artists, Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley. Some of my favorite tales in the collection were "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way" by Holly Black and Cecil Castelucci, "I Never" by Cassandra Clare, "The Stars at the Finish Line" by Wendy Mass, and "It's Just a Jump to the Left" by Libba Bray. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to embrace their inner geek.

Afterwards, I read another short story collection, The Poison Eaters: and Other Stories by Holly Black. This collection includes tales of vampires, devils, werewolves, faeries, and more. Two of the stories take place in the world of Tithe, which I read and reviewed earlier this year. I especially enjoyed "A Reversal of Forture", "The Dog King", "In Vodka Veritas", "Paper Cuts Scissors", and "The Land of Heart's Desire". Overall, it's a great collection and fantasy fantasy fans should read it.

By the end of July, I read Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier. This collection is split evenly between unicorn tales and zombie tales as the editors argue over which is better. Black led Team Unicorn while Larbalestier led Team Zombie. All of the stories were fantastic, and by the end of the collection, I couldn't decide if I liked unicorns or zombies better. My favorite unicorn story was "The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn" by Diana Peterfreund and my favorite zombie tale was "Cold Hands" by Cassandra Clare. If you're a zombie fan or a unicorn fan, this collection is perfect.

Finally, I read Beauty and the Beast by Elizabeth Rudnick in August. In this fantasy novel, a young woman, Belle, lives with her father, Maurice, in the the small village of Villeneuve, France. She doesn't feel like she belongs, though, and wants to go on adventures like in the stories she has read. When Maurice is imprisoned in a castle by a terrifying Beast, Belle decides to take his place. After the Beast saves her from a wolf attack when she tries to escape, they learn to look beyond their first impressions of each other. Meanwhile, the town war hero, Gaston, has set his eyes on Belle and spends his time trying to come up with a scheme to make her his wife. Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite fairy tales because I grew up with the animated movie from 1991, so I especially enjoyed this novelization of the live action movie that was released in 2017. If you enjoyed either of the movies or fairy tales in general, you should read this book.

Ironside and The Lament of Lutie-loo by Holly Black

 

Last night, I finished reading the final book of the Modern Faerie Tales series, Ironside by Holly Black. This fantasy novel concludes the trilogy about the adventures of Kaye, Val, and their friends. At the coronation of her boyfriend, Roiben, Kaye makes the mistake of declaring herself to him after being pressured by two other faeries while drunk on faerie wine, even though he told her not to do so. Roiben gives her the impossible quest of finding a faerie who can lie and she's not supposed to talk, or even see, him until she completes the task. Then, when Kaye decides to tell her mom the truth that she's a faerie, Ellen's reaction of horror leads Kaye to go the Seelie Court with Corny to find Ellen's real daughter and bring her home. Upon learning that the Seelie Court's queen, Silarial, wants Roiben's throne and plans to use her to get it, Kaye has to find a way to both prevent the possible war and save him because she still loves him.

This was another excellent fantasy novel by Holly Black and it was a thrilling adventure from beginning to end. I knew there had to be a trick regarding the quest Roiben gave Kaye, but I was never able to figure it out until she did. Even though Kaye and Roiben betrayed each other in different ways, I was hoping that they would reconcile by the end of the story. While things between them got worse before they got better, I was pleased by the book's conclusion. I also loved that Luis continued to play a big role in the story after meeting him in Valiant. I enjoyed the relationship between him and Corny because it turned out they had a lot in common, especially regarding how their lives had been affected by their interactions with faeries. Additionally, I liked how Lutie-loo was a supportive friend to Kaye, watching over her mom, while Kaye went on her journey. Because the Seelie Court and Silarial posed such a huge threat to Kaye, Corny, Luis, and their loved ones, the story was not without tragedy. With that said, if you've read Tithe and Valiant, you should certainly read Ironside.

I also read a short story, The Lament of Lutie-loo, taking place years after the events of the trilogy. Roiben's sister, Ethine, is still gone, so Lutie-loo goes on a mission for Kaye to find Ethine's whereabouts. Lutie-loo ends up being captured and held as a hostage in the High Court where Prince Balekin wants to use her to gain the loyalty of Roiben and the Court of Termites. This short story was fun to read and I enjoyed that it featured characters from both the Modern Faerie Tales and Folk of the Air series. It serves as a bridge between the two series, so I would recommend it to fans of those books who aren't ready to leave the world Holly Black created.

Valiant by Holly Black

 

Last night, I finished reading Valiant by Holly Black, which is the second book in the Modern Faerie Tales series. In this fantasy novel, a seventeen-year-old girl, Valerie Russell, is about to go on date to a hockey game in New York City with her boyfriend, Tom. When Tom is late in picking her up, Val heads to the train station on her own, but then she changes her mind and goes back home to wait for Tom. There, she catches Tom and her mother together. Angry with both her mom and Tom, she ends up going to the hockey game alone. Not wanting face her mom, Val decides to stay in the city after the game and meets Lolli, Dave, and Luis, a group of teens who are homeless and live in the subway. After making a delivery to Mabry, a goat-legged woman, with Dave, Val is unsettled by seeing a faerie for the first time. She mentions what she saw to Lolli, who talks her into going into the troll tunnel for proof that faeries are real. When the troll, Ravus, catches them in his lair, Val agrees to make deliveries for him for a month if he lets Lolli go. Making the last of her first set of deliveries, Val comes across a dead mermaid. She immediately goes back to Ravus to inform him of what she saw. As she grows closer to Ravus, they try to solve the mystery of the faerie murders in the city even as she and her new friends become addicted to the substance they have her stealing from Ravus, which acts as a drug in humans.

This sequel is definitely the darkest and grittiest of all the books I've read by Holly Black so far, but I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of it because the plot kept me on my toes, trying to guess who was murdering faeries in New York City. I thought Lolli and Dave were a terrible influence on Val, but it was clear that Val was in a very dark place at the start of the story and I do respect that she grew to care about her new friends even if they were quite problematic. I definitely loved her relationship with Ravus, who agreed to teach her how to sword fight when she decided to keep making deliveries for him even though it was dangerous and other faeries suspected him of being the poisoner. I absolutely hated that she was betraying him by stealing Nevermore from his supply for her friends' needs and I was anxious about what would happen when he found out. Thankfully, this book has a happy ending and the climax was fantastic, showing how Val grew as a character. Anyone who likes the series starter, Tithe, or any of Holly Black's other books should read Valiant.