YA for Adults

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Katherine Tegen Books; 2013
Young Adult (Adult Crossover)

Ezra Faulkner's middle school best friend Toby catches a decapitated head on a roller coaster during his twelfth birthday celebration at Disneyland. Labeled a misfit because of this tragedy, Toby and Ezra drift apart as the story fast forwards to Ezra's life as a 17-year-old. Ezra realizes Toby's tragedy didn't have to end their friendship, but he didn't do anything to change it. When Ezra has his personal tragedy at the start of his senior year, it comes when he least expects it; he's ridiculously popular, a celebrated athlete, and gets good grades and hot girls. His girlfriend cheats on him, he gets into a bad car accident which ends his tennis career, and loses his place among popular royalty. What do you do when everything has to start again? A mysterious girl named Cassidy comes into the story and makes Ezra wonder if this is the beginning of everything.

The detailed character descriptions and realistic teenage dialogue push the story along at a fast pace. You feel the pain and loss of Ezra's tragedy and the remorse he feels for his failed friendship with Toby. We all make poor decisions, and this story helps us see the repercussions but also the new paths that open up after a tragedy. I cannot tell you enough how much I loved this story. I laughed, I cried, and I saw my own teenage stupidity. Schneider shows us that life goes on, but not in the way we originally thought.

READ-A-LIKES (click the link for Amazon)

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

St. Martin's Griffin; 2013

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Speak; 2006

Winger by Andrew Smith

Simon & Schuster; 2013

YA? Y Not?

WEEK THIRTEEN PROMPT

I can't believe adults don't read YA novels or have to be convinced to read them.  YA books are so well-written and engaging.  YA authors know they have to win over the most difficult of readers: teens.  As a result, their books are entertaining, relevant, and believable.  When I was a teen, this genre didn't exist.  We had a few books that were quality literature for our age, but most of the books I read were written for adults.  I actually prefer to read YA books now because I know they will be quick and accessible.  I sometimes feel like books written for adults can be intimidating.  It's almost like they are trying too hard to be smart.  I don't want a book that makes my head hurt; I want to be entertained.  With the quality of YA literature out there, I can't stop reading it.  I admit that I have had to convince some of my friends or teacher colleagues to read some of the books I'm reading, but they are almost always happy.  The biggest YA crossover author (in my mind) is John Green.  His books are pure relatable genius.  I highlight constantly because he has so many meaningful passages.  He understands what it is to be a teen - and, deep down, we still have that teen in us.  I know when I read his books, I remember who I used to be and it all makes more sense now.  I have no problem suggesting YA books to adults and, in fact, would prefer it :)

As for graphic novels, these have been a newer addition to my high school's library, so I know adults might not realize the value in them.  Our students have grabbed onto them quickly, and I would definitely suggest graphic novels to adults who asked for new books to read.  With so many TV show and movie inspired graphic novels, they can be easy to recommend.  "Game of Thrones," "The Walking Dead," Watchmen, and V for Vendetta to name a few.  In some cases the graphic novel/comic came first, but some of the others it was the reverse.  This article about "Game of Thrones" explains why some may read the graphic novel but not the actual novel. ("A Game of Thrones" by Mark Flowers)

The last genre, street lit, would not be something many people would ask for in my school or public libraries because of our demographic, but I can see the appeal.  Like I mentioned on the YA paragraph, people want relatable reading material.  If someone asked for the topics you mentioned, I would be sure to find street lit to fit their needs.

Ultimately the goal is to get people reading books they like.  The relatable topics of the street lit and YA genres will attract adults, and the sophistication of the artwork and storyline in graphic novels will have them coming back for more.

The Birds! The Birds!

The Bird Eater by Ania Ahlborn
47North; 01 April 2014
Horror

I don't typically read horror books because they sit in my brain too long, but my sister shared this book with me, and I couldn't put it down.

The story of the Holbrook House starts with the mysterious death of young Aaron's aunt. She is waiting for him to return home from school and hears a noise in the hall and then upstairs.  When she goes to investigate, she finds a young boy with a bloody smile.  This boy plays a major role in her death and, in turn, the rest of the story. We find out that Aaron's mother and uncle died in the house  too. Aaron returns 20 years after his aunt's death to clean up the house in order to sell it.  Aaron's life has been one nightmarish event after another and even though he reunites with his childhood friends, the feeling of dread never leaves him or the reader.  His addiction to pills and alcohol make him wonder if the young boy following him around town and watching him through the windows of Holbrook House is real.  Aaron's depression spirals out of control, and he becomes affected by the strangely multiplying birds and the prankster little boy.  Sucked into the story because of Aaron's weight loss and lack of sleep, his friends try to help him deal with his internal and external problems, but it might just be too late.

The imagery and details of this story linger for hours after closing the book.  Ahlborn describes a twisted young boy whose actions show no remorse and his treatment of birds is even scarier.  The most terrifying part of the story is Aaron's struggle to stay sane.  You are rooting so much for his success that his nightmares become yours.  Aaron has redeeming qualities but his life's events have shattered him so deeply that he is easily persuaded by the demonic little boy.  Learning about his past allows us to realize the repercussions of the reunion between Aaron and his first love.  The end of the story is not the end, but rather the beginning of maybe another story.

READ-A-LIKES (click the link for Amazon)

The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn

47North; 2013

The Waiting by Joe Hart

Black Spine Books; 2013

The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh

Spiegel & Grau; 2014

The Matrix: Readers' Advisory

WEEK TWELVE PROMPT

Readers' Advisory Matrix for She Got Up Off the Couch and Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel.

• Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
• Highly narrative (reads like fiction)
• What is the subject of the book?
• This book is about Haven Kimmel's mother and her life in rural Indiana.  We first met Delonda in Kimmel's first book A Girl Named Zippy, and in this book, we see her mom get off the couch and change her life.
• What type of book is it?
• A memoir written in chapter vignettes
• Articulate Appeal
• What is the pacing of the book?
• The story is a narrative so it unfolds very quickly.  Each chapter reads separately but all together creates the picture of the family.
• Describe the characters of the book.
• Haven uses the family member descriptions to drive the story.  The main characters are Zippy (Haven), Delonda Jarvis (her mom), Bob Jarvis (her dad), Melinda (her sister), and Dan (her brother).  There are other characters that flavor the story, but the main part is about her family...especially her mom in this story.
• How does the story feel?
• Funny, touching, and reflective
• What is the intent of the story?
• Sharing her family's experience and telling her mother's story
• Does the language matter?
• Yes.  The language is unique to Haven's writing style.
• Is the setting important and well described?
• Very.  Her descriptions of growing up in small-town Indiana make her story different than others.
• Are there details and, if so, of what?
• The details are about the characters and setting.
• Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?
• Doesn't apply, but there are great pictures for each chapter that showcase the subject of that particular chapter.
• Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
• We learn about what her mother goes through and her difficulties changing her life.
• Why would a reader enjoy this book?
• Humor
• Family Stories
• Tone

A Book By Any Other Name: Ebooks and Audiobooks

WEEK ELEVEN PROMPT

When I first started reading ebooks, I was very hesitant.  I never thought I would prefer my e-reader to an actual book that I could hold in my hand and smell the pages.  After reading a few ebooks, I really can't stand when I have to read a print book.  I get irritated by the weight of the book and how hard it is to keep open while laying in bed.  As an avid fiction reader, I don't think any of the appeals are missing from my ebook experience.  I still fall easily into the story and get attached to the characters.  I think the drawback would be with the nonfiction genre.  Pictures, graphs, etc. aren't as friendly on the Kindle e-reader.  Reading on an iPad/tablet might be different because it is more like a computer, but my Kindle doesn't do graphics very well.  It looks beautiful as a page in a book though.  I love the editable features of ebooks.  Being able to manipulate the text and highlight passages without (gasp!) ruining the book make it so much better for me.  I would have never written in a book not for school, but now I highlight passages and look up words like a scholar :)  I think this adds to reading a genre because you can understand a book even better.  You may be too lazy to look up a word you don't know, but if you can tap a word and find out the definition, anyone would do that.

As for audiobooks, I absolutely want to like them, but I don't.  I am too much of a visual person to follow along with the story.  I tried listening on a long commute, but I found myself 40 minutes into the drive and realized I had tuned out the entire story.  I get too distracted to listen to audiobooks.  I know there are people who love them, so I will talk about their appeal.  They are great because you can hear the inflection which can be important in the more fast-paced genres.  It wouldn't be good for nonfiction because, much like ebooks, the pictures would be nonexistent.  Narrator is everything for audiobooks, and I know my grandma loves when the author reads his/her own book.  We always look to buy her those gems for her birthday and Christmas.  Overall, I think ebooks and audiobooks still appeal to readers and have their own appeal.  I prefer reading on my e-reader because it is lightweight and backlit, and my grandma likes audiobooks because she doesn't see well.  Reading is reading in my book :)

The Hobbit: There and Back Again...and Again and Again

The Hobbit: There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1997
(Classic) Fantasy

A familiar story to some, Tolkien's novel starts with Bilbo Baggins, a comfortable hobbit. Hobbits do not travel and definitely do not go on adventures: they do live simple lives.  When the wizard Gandalf unexpectedly visits Bilbo, everything changes in a blink.  Bilbo resists the idea of traveling, but when a large group of dwarves takes over his home, he can't help but be intrigued.  Following at last, Bilbo joins the company and takes off on a journey to defeat the dragon Smaug and take back the dwarves' home.  He meets many dangerous creatures along the way and even finds a magical ring.

Tolkien takes us on a journey through his made-up land of Middle-earth.  Filled with magic, dwarves, trolls, dragons, and wizards, The Hobbit lets us relive the fantasy of our childhood when we wished magic was real.  The sweeping landscape starts with the small Hobbit village and continues through forests, caves, and more.  The descriptions paint the picture of a fantastical place.  If you like adventure and magic wrapped into one story, then this book will be good for you.  I read it when I was much younger, but I often revisit it because the adventure never ends in my mind.  The Hobbit: There and Back Again...and Again and Again.  You won't want it to stop.  Good news is that it doesn't end there because Tolkien continued this story in The Lord of the Rings.  I don't know about you, but I love getting to keep characters for more than one book :)

READ-A-LIKES (click the link for Amazon)

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Bantam; 1997

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

Ace; 1987

The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Laurel Leaf; 2003

Time-Traveling Scottish Romance

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Dell; 1992
Historical (Romance) Fiction

Oh, this book.  First off, let me share that this series (yes, it's a series!) is currently being made into a STARZ Original series, and I can't flipping wait.  I decided I would review this novel as a way to encourage more people to read it before the series starts on TV.

On to the review.  Gabaldon's novel starts in 1945 with Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, enjoying her second honeymoon with her husband in Scotland.  She is walking one night when she leans upon an old rock.  Unbeknownst to her, this rock is something more.  Part of an ancient stone circle, Claire leans and falls into the past.  She is transported back in time to 1743 - a time when Scotland is war-torn and being British is very bad.  Discovered by an untamed Scotsman, James Fraser, Claire quickly falls into deeper trouble.  She now has a husband in the future and a lover in the past.

I don't always fall in love with the characters I read, but Diana Gabaldon creates characters you can actually feel.  Although a long book by anyone's standards at 850 pages (not, however, too long for historical fiction), Outlander's pages fly by.  Gabaldon takes her time when laying out the details of the story, so you get to know the characters and become deeply invested in their story.  The description of the Scottish setting and 1743 time period make you feel that you are in the story with them.  Jamie is definitely a product of tumultuous Scotland and his world affects Claire when she falls back in time.  I laughed, cried, and my heart definitely fluttered.  If you aren't blushing when Jamie whispers to Claire in his Scottish accent, then you're not reading it correctly.  I can't wait to see if the passion that burns on the page can be translated to the screen.  This is a MUST READ and hopefully a must see.  Have the second book ready to go because you won't want to wait!

READ-A-LIKES (click the link for Amazon)

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (Book 2)

Delta; 2001 (reprint)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Penguin Books; 2011
Magic and history in one book!

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Gallery Books; 2012

Historical time-traveling