Summer Reads: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Subtitle: Kentucky and Louisiana Bust

This past weekend was spent with my husband and his family. It required a plane trip and therefore I got to do some reading! Now it wasn’t the reading that I know it should have been. I did indeed read a few more pages from Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker until I realized that I knew what was going to happen. Well I decided to experiment my theory and went to the last 15 pages and read them. I know you would like to say, “Ryn, you are so childish” and “I bet you were surprised.” I, dear friends, was correct in my prediction.  Queen of Kentucky would be a great book for YA reluctant readers as it is a quick, summer read, but after nine weeks of starting and re-starting, I had to let this one go back to the library.

The Louisiana selection, Arise by Tara Hudson, had some promise to it. Ghosts, mystery, romance. The plot sounded intriguing, but then after some research I discovered that Arise is not the first in a series, but a sequel. After that epiphany I decided to return this book to the library as well because “ain’t nobody got time for dat!”. Again, to repeat from previous posts I have read more than 20 YA books this year alone (this is counting those in addition to the challenge) and they have all started to kind of blend together. I just need a little break to recharge. After chronically not-finishing four of the selections from the list thus far, I have 30 more titles to investigate.

Back to the airport conundrum. I needed a book! I decided to go with some John Green.

Summary via goodreads. Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.

I was a little worried that this book was going to turn into a boarding school story like many other YA novels, but then I remembered that this is John Green. As much as the boarding school setting is prominent, it is not the focus. I enjoyed this book very much. From the school pranks, to the search for self-discovery, then finally to the mystery behind Alaska, it was all very enthralling to read.

It didn’t make me tear up like The Fault in Our Stars did, but it wasn’t meant be that level of story. I would definitely recommend this to those readers who loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It has the shy boy looking for himself and getting caught up with a free spirited female. Additionally, the shy boy deals with all the symbolism in the world that has now seeped into his no longer cookie-cutter existence. I kind of love this type of book. Perhaps this is because I, too, am a shy person and would love no more than to lose control in search of the “Great Perhaps.”

Also, in John Green signature style this book was filled with great quotes. Not just the last words from dead historical figures (some of which are hilarious), but also from the smartest sounding students from around the country.  A few of my favorite are below:

“The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.” – This quote is used throughout the novel and very much represents one of the core themes.

-"Yeah, Pudge. My fox hat."
-"Why are you wearing your fox hat?" I asked.
-"Because no one can catch the motherfucking fox.”

-Conversation between Pudge and Takumi. I had to stifle a guffaw when I read this dialogue.

“They love their hair because they're not smart enough to love something more interesting.” – A reference to the bratty, rich Weekend Warriors.

“Francois Rabelais. He was a poet. And his last words were "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps.” – Miles’ explanation for going to Culver Creek Boarding School.

And so many more. I had to look up a few of these to remember the exact words, but these were my faves.

I can’t wait to get my hands on more John Green books! Should I read Paper Towns or An Abundance of Katherines next?

Summer Reads: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

First off, I had to read this book pretty much because John Green said I should (see his NYT review). If John Green is telling you to read a book, then you should not only read it, but buy it for your collection. Now onto the synopsis via goodreads.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone see drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

After a few negative experiences with the past few selections, I was starting to give up on the YA genre. It was getting too cliché and too predictable–-that is until this book. Eleanor and Park has restored my faith in the YA genre. This is a beautifully written love story about the obstacles young love must fight, including peer pressure and domestic abuse. Additionally, Eleanor and Park fight against family, class level, and gender role definition and it just feels like all odds are stacked against them. Their fight is quite inspirational and they are a couple you can cheer for.

Even though this story takes place in the 1980s, it is a timeless classic. These characters could have been me or my friends in 2002 or my parents in 1976. Eleanor is a misfit for being “big” and having wild, red curly hair. Along with a love for comic books and reading, Eleanor is considered an easy target for bullying. Then there is her home life. Her stepdad is horrendously abusive and this leaves her mother in an hopeless situation which also leaves Eleanor and her siblings quite stuck. Eleanor’s life is one that many teens, unfortunately, resonate with.

Park is half-Asian and is having issues defining himself–-something that most teens experience. Park’s situation with his family is different than Eleanor’s, but is one that teens can still relate. Park’s dad wants him to be a more manly figure and not “puss out”, while his mother only wants perfection from him. I will say that Park’s parents are more likeable and more relatable parents than previous books I have read.

I definitely got teary-eyed towards the end shouting “BUT WHY?!” and “There’s got to be more!” But the ending just leaves you wondering about the couple. It’s just really unfortunate that I don’t see a sequel in sight. This was Rainbow Rowell’s debut YA novel and she has another coming out soon titled Fangirl. I sincerely hope she sticks around.

If you like Eleanor and Park, here are some suggestions via goodreads, Novelist, and my own personal judgment.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

OCD, the Dude, and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexia

Audiobook Awesomeness/Minnesota: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Synopsis via goodreads. For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

After almost 6 months of beginning this YA reading journey, I am starting to feel dissatisfied with these YA selections. It feels like I have read these books before. The YA genres of paranormal romance and dystopia are in overabundance to the point where it has become frustrating for me as a reader. It’s not Maggie Stiefvater’s fault or Lauren Oliver’s.  I have now read around 18 titles for this challenge plus numerous others and it is starting to bum me out how formulaic and (hate to say it) cliché they all are. Poor Shiver just came in at a time where I'm about fed up.

This book series is for all you Twilight fans out there. There were lots and LOTS of dreamy, whimsical romance scenes and of course werewolves. Again my eyes rolled throughout most of this book. It also did not help that I audiobooked this title. Listening to the narrators, who granted did a great job with expression, read and act this book made me giggle. Needless to say, I will not continue this series like so many prior books.

Ok this is starting to sound bad. There are some good, redeeming qualities that I did like about Shiver. For one, Sam and Grace’s feelings for each other felt realistic to everyday teens. This includes their sexual relationship. Sam’s hesitance in the bedroom was kind of adorable and it was nice to have a guy’s voice talk about this subject. Secondly, everything about the story was incredibly descriptive. I could imagine the location and smells and temperature of the setting quite vividly and I feel this is Stiefvater’s strongest writing quality.

With the audiobook, the toughest part is that the book itself switches narrators between Sam and Grace; therefore, the audiobook also switches narrators. The problem is that most of the book Sam and Grace are in each other’s company and with multiple narrators you also have different narration styles. To clarify, this means that Sam’s narrator not only did his own character’s voice, but also had to occasionally convey Grace’s voice. The female narrator did Sam’s voice differently than the male narrator and the male narrator’s attempt at Grace’s caused some snickers. I know it is difficult to match the two and besides this one tiny problem, they did an excellent job with expression and engagement. Remember peeps, I have a hard time getting past some details.

The bottom line is that as a YA librarian, I would buy this series for my collection. Paranormal romances are still popular and I have been asked about this series by several teens even before I read it. Maggie Stiefvater is becoming a prominent YA author and has many other popular titles out there. If I make it to the selection for Virginia, I will be reading her work once more in The Raven Boys.

Peeps, I may need a YA break here so I am going to get an adult audiobook for next time. That’s 18 down, 32 more to go.

Maine: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

SUBTITLE: I’m not bothering with alphabetical order any more

Yes. I know. Maine before Kentucky or Louisiana? What is this chick doing? I was third on the wait list for Delirium and then it magically arrived for me earlier than expected. There is still a wait list for it, so I had to read it very quickly. Don’t worry, I will finish the other two. Unfortunately, I do have other books requiring my attention before I can even start those. But for now, onto Maine!

Synopsis via goodreads. Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn’t touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

My own synopsis: Lena (short for Magdalena) lives in a world where lovesick is not just metaphorical; it’s a physical ailment. The government of the United States has declared love a disease and blames it on the current, desolate situation. Scientists; however, have developed “the cure” which will render humans over the age of 18 docile and detached from the disease’s influence. No more crazy romance and no more pain. Children are raised to believe that Love is contagious and lethal. Lena is close to 17 and is ready for “the cure.” That is until she meets Alex who then shows her a different way…yadda, yadda, yadda. Come on people. You knew where this was going.

Oh YA dystopia. We meet again. This is the fifth one I have read this summer. In my personal layman opinion, the allure of the dystopian novel is the world that the author creates for the reader. A world in which, as the reader, we feel could exist or even currently exists in some respect. The corrupt government manipulating its people to become mindless drones all in the name of peace is prominent in these plots. It also feels rather relevant to our situation now-in-days. In dystopia, not only do we fall in love with a setting like Panem (Hunger Games), but we also fall in love with a hero/heroine. The problem that I, Ryn the Librarian, have with Delirium is my inability to connect with the world Oliver created.

The book felt formulaic. Girl lives in dystopia. Girl falls in love with the “wrong” boy. Girl learns that world isn’t what it seems. Girl reluctantly has to save the public from this dystopia.  Pretty much like any other YA series out there right now.

The other problem that I simply could not get past, was the concept of love as an ACTUAL disease needing a cure. Love is already used pretty poetically and thematic in books. The fact that Oliver is using love in the physical sense is bold, but in the end felt too silly and cheesy for me to enjoy. On the one hand, this fictional society felt like an exaggeration/commentary of prudish societies of the past and I found I could like it. On the other hand, I had difficulties getting through the premise of Love as a disease and it needed to be cured. This was the exact same problem I had with the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. Yep, I never finished Uglies because there are some concepts that Ryn the Librarian just can’t get through.

I have to remember that this book is not for me or my age demographic, it is for teens. If this were 1998-2005, I probably would have eaten this series up in a heartbeat. As an adult; however, I spent most of the book either snickering at the overdramatic declarations of love or rolling my eyes at the stages of amor deliria nervosa (the medical term for the love disease). I read portions out loud to my husband and we both roared with laughter.  Again, Delirium is not for late twenty-somethings.

Also, I have to remember that formulaic works for a lot of readers. If you find a series or author that you love, you want to read similar titles. The public loved Hunger Games, so now there are tons of Hunger Games-esque series. It was the same thing with Twilight and even Harry Potter before that. I know I have tried many different genres for myself and I know what I like in my books. It does tend to look similar over time.

If I had to rate this book out of 5 stars, I would say 3.5 to 4. There were aspects I liked about this book, but I could not suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy it. No matter how I feel, teens love this series. If you are a YA Librarian, you better get it for your collection. Just remember that doesn’t mean you have to read it.

33 more books to go!

Currently on Ryn the Librarian’s Reading Plate

Hello Everyone. Like an idiot, I requested too many good books and it’s going to take a while to get through. I say this so that you know why there could be a gap in my posts.  So here is what is on my reading plate. I am excited for a few of these!

United States of YA List

Kentucky:  Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

Louisiana: Arise by Tara Hudson

Maine: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Minnesota: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Side Reading

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Currently, I am halfway through Delirium by Lauren Oliver and almost halfway through the audiobook of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Also, if I am being honest, I am still only 20 pages in Queen of Kentucky.

Talk to you peeps soon.

Audiobook Awesomeness: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Synopsis via goodreads. 

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.  

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. 

But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind

First, SPOILERS are ahead so read with caution. Second, this is the August/September selection for the book club that I participate in so I decided to borrow the audiobook and have it solve two tasks. One is that I have actually completed a novel for book club AND two is that I get to write an audiobook post about it.

This book is marketed specifically to fans of the Hunger Games and Divergent series and I have to say it delivers in that respect. There is the strange fantastical landscape with hints of potential apocalypse in the outside world. There is a level of mystery/intrigue surrounding the maze as well as the boys’ search for answers to its/their existence. I was also impressed with the social/political system the boys put in place once sent into the Glade. Though the book ends with more questions, clearly part of series (Son of a Biscuit!), we have some closure in parts. It was definitely not the situation I was expecting, which was a pleasant twist.

That being said, I did not like this novel as much as I liked the Hunger Games and Divergent series. Could this be because I am slightly biased towards a female protagonist? I am female so that could be the exact reason; however, there are plenty of books with male protagonists that I have enjoyed in the past such as Everybody Sees the Ants, Harry Potter, America, The Outsiders, Lord of the Flies, and The Chocolate War. So what’s my deal?

Perhaps it’s Thomas. As much as Thomas develops in progress with the novel, it seemed he still lacked personality.  My thought is that this is in reflection of his memory loss. Without those memories it is hard to predict Thomas’ actions or relate to him. It is hard to root for a protagonist when he has little personality, even if the reason behind that is a loss of memory.

Then there was the obvious solution to the memory loss dilemma. As soon as the solution presented itself, I shouted “well duh, why hasn’t anyone done that yet!” This is how it went in my mind (SPOILER):

”Oh you kids have memory loss? Well here are these Griever monsters that have needles that will inject a chemical into you which will give you back your memories. Oh yeah, why don’t I use that to help us get out of the maze! I’m a genius.”

Granted the “Changing”, which is the physical process of getting your memories back, was painful and a lot of boys went crazy afterwards, BUT you’d get your memory back and therefore would know more about this mysterious death maze you’ve randomly been placed. The “Creators” obviously and deliberately installed that characteristic in the Grievers so why don’t you use it!

Also, they used the terms “shank,” “schuck,” and “clunk” too much in the place of curse words. For example, they kept calling each other “schuck face” or “you stupid shank.” Even though I can appreciate the low level of cursing for those middle level readers, the use of these particular words was going into overkill. It felt like every other sentence out of a kid’s mouth used these three words. Seriously, did you kids not remember any other insults? 

In terms of the audiobook, the narration was ok. It was not the best I have heard (see Fault in Our Stars), but still decent. The narrator did excellent accents for Newt and Minho, but the general reading felt stale. There were times where I felt my mind drift away rather than focusing on the story; therefore, my engagement is a little lost.

The Maze Runner is considered to be a classic for future readers and even though it didn’t look like it, I enjoyed listening to it. Sometimes I get stuck on the littlest of things and therefore some of these postings seem more negative than positive. Just to clarify, so far there has not been a title that I truly detested. A great purchase to any YA collection especially since a movie is coming out.

Here are some suggested reads that are not Hunger Games or Divergent. This is based on Novelist, goodreads, and my own personal judgment.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding (boys surviving on an island)

The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld (touch of dystopia/apocalypse)

Variant by Robison Wells (kids trying to survive at a school with no adults)

Legend by Marie Lu (touch of dystopia/apocalypse)

The Giver by Lois Lowry (touch of dystopia/apocalypse)

Summer Reads: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

This was an easy read that I definitely approve for reluctant teen readers out there. Since the plot is rather basic, I decided to just provide a synopsis via goodreads rather than try to explain on my own. Also, watch out because there are some SPOILERS. 

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List: 1. Run for pep club secretary, 2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree, 3. Sew a dress for Homecoming, 4. Find a steady, 5. Do something dangerous.

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far. 

Again, this was a quick, uncomplicated read. I appreciated some surprises in the end and some of the overall messages of this book. Mallory used to idealize the early 1960s as that time seemed pure and sincere, not like now-in-days with all our cell phones, chat sessions, and Friendspace pages running amok. After talking with her grandmother and doing some research, Mallory finally sees that being a teen always sucked no matter the time period and that the early 1960s were not that wonderful. As her grandmother points out there were racism, segregation, communism, fear of a nuclear war, and social inequality especially against women. This is what I appreciated about the book. It was not some love letter to the 1960s that declared a return to a more conservative, simpler time. It was a book that stated, “Those teenage years are hard for everyone.” When the TV show Mad Men first aired, many fans claimed that the early 1960s was great with its fashion, culture, and style. It appeared that not many people realized that the 1960s had been over glamourized and that this time period may have looked vibrant and appealing to some, but for most people it was oppressing and just downright insufferable. Sure you can appreciate the fashion styles at the time, but we need to realize how far we have come in a short amount of time…and how far we have to go. Sorry, slight rant over for now while I go purchase some items from Mod Cloth.

For me, Mallory is a most relatable character. Mallory is authentic and I applaud her development throughout the events that take place. When she was dating Jeremy she had spent most of the time making out with him and revolving her schedule around him. It was nice to see post-breakup Mallory recognize that she needed to “find her thing” before beginning another long term relationship with someone else, no matter how much she liked that someone else. Also, her “Tool” post on Jeremy’s Friendspace was the best.

In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship Mallory has with her sister, Ginnie. Some sibling relationships tend to focus on the annoying younger sibling like Ramona Quimby or the Superfudge books, but it was nice to see two sisters who genuinely cared for one another and were practically best friends. The familial subplot was great to have, even though at times the Mom and Dad seemed like stereotypical, not understanding parents. The relationship between Mom and Dad recognized that couples argue, but that they can also resolve issues through strong and stable communication.

All in all, a nice summer read that will definitely keep teens engaged, though mainly teen girls. There are of course some eye rolls here and there which comes with any YA read. Maybe not a Must-Have, but I still recommend for any YA collection.

These are suggested reads based on goodreads, Novelist, and my own personal judgment.

Any title ever by Sarah Dessen

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Summer Reads: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

As I said in my last post, I am stuck on Kentucky. At work we had a big arrival of new books and I had to help myself to a few items. Cinder was one of them and Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt is the other. I do love summer for many things and having the time to read in the evenings is one of them. It has kept me distracted from the self-designated reading challenge, but I feel that the goal of the challenge (as well as the blog) is to keep me up-to-date on the happenings of YA literature. So why not also read the newest selections in addition?! Cinder is a great book and appeared in YALSA’s 2012 Teen’s Top Ten at numero siete (7^th); therefore, a perfect choice for light reading at home.

On to the story itself. When asked about this book I would describe it as “the story of Cinderella. Oh! But she’s a cyborg and there are aliens as well as political strife and a fast spreading epidemic.”  Cinder is a cyborg living with a guardian and her two daughters. Cinder had been adopted by the guardian’s husband a few years prior. Cinder does not remember anything before the horrific accident that turned most of her body into metal. Since cyborgs are considered second class citizens (slaves really), she has no choice but to help her guardian make-do by working as a top notch mechanic in New Beijing. When Cinder witnesses her young step sister Peony become disease-ridden by Letumosis, it starts the action of not only familial unrest, but political unrest.

That’s the primary exposition, but did I mention there were aliens? Oh yeah the Lunars, as they are called, are the inhabitants of the Moon that they call Luna. They have special powers that allow them to manipulate bioelectricity, i.e. people’s brain functions and vision perceptions. This power freaks out all of Earth because it means that the Lunars can easily brainwash its citizens and easily change their appearances. The Luna ruler is Queen Levana whose rise to power came when she killed her sister and attempted to kill her niece, Princess Selene. Princess Selene; however, was mysteriously never found. The Queen’s niece is the only one who can challenge her rule and so the search for the missing princess becomes a critical plot point.

There is a lot of plot to this book. In addition to the above synopsis, there are many other characters and plots including Dr. Erland and Prince Kai. The doctor, Prince Kai and Cinder’s lives become intertwined with not only finding a cure for Letumosis, but also dealing with Queen Levana visit to Earth. Cinder wants to be with the prince, but she is embarrassed to tell him that she is a cyborg. Also, there’s a ball and of course the evil stepmother and one evil step sister (though just the one).

Even though the reference to the classic fairy tale Cinderella is obvious, I feel that this rendition offers more mystery and intrigue. I also love the difference in setting. We’re in a time where Earth was torn apart by war leaving its inhabitants to deal with the consequences, including intergalactic politics as well as an epidemic. That’s definitely way more action-packed and awesome than some silly, vague kingdom far away. Also, this setting allows us to enjoy a heroine who is not only a sassy mechanic, but clever, conflicted, and strong. I was afraid that this rendition would be too much like Cinderella to be good, but so far it has only referenced the basic plot points. I say “so far” because this is the first in a series (figures). This is a Must-Have for any YA Collection.

The following suggested reads come from Novelist, GoodReads, and my own personal judgement. These related reads are for those who love Sci-Fi/Fantasy with a dash of something else:

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

Transparent by Natalie Whipple

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith