Review: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
by Annabel Pitcher
Reviewed by Maggie: August 15, 2012
Published: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Goodreads • Amazon • Kindle • Book Depository



My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece takes place five years after bombs went off in London killing 62 people. The story follows the aftermath of the family of the youngest victim, Rose, from the perspective of her now 10-year-old brother, Jamie. Jamie's parents, unable to deal with the blame and guilt they place on one another, have finally split up. Jamie and Jas, Rose's twin, move with their father out into the country. One benefit, according to their father, is to get away from Muslims. After all, Muslims killed his daughter. Another benefit is the job waiting for him, something he couldn't find in London what with all the foreigners stealing jobs. Never mind the bottle of vodka he empties everyday. Jamie goes to his new school, where he's picked on and told to "go back to London." The only person who smiles at him is Sunya, the girl wearing a hijab. But Muslims killed his sister and he's supposed to honor his father, who hates Muslims, isn't he?

A middle grade book dealing with terrorism and death? Needless to say, I had my doubts. However, Annabel Pitcher confronts issues like hate, loyalty, and loss in such a straightforward way that its simplicity belies its depth. Even more impressive, she confronts the pressure to grieve.

Jamie grieves the loss of his family and his parents' marriage, but he doesn't cry over the sister he barely remembers. How can he? He was 5 years old when she died. His parents and various therapists, though, tell him it just hasn't hit him yet. His mother once made him change a school essay on a special person from a soccer player to Rose, and the story she made him use resulted in his being teased mercilessly by the other students. Poor kid. Over 20 years later and parents still don't understand. As much as I hated Jamie's parents, I loved this storyline because I wonder how many kids who've prematurely lost parents and siblings and relatives are acting how they THINK they should instead of how they actually feel. And I wonder how many kids know that it's okay to feel... nothing. Or close to nothing. How do you mourn someone you barely know or remember? I always hear kids being told that it's okay to cry, it's okay to cry, but it's also okay not to cry.

Jamie also struggles to reconcile his father's view of evil, murderous Muslims with the bright, sunny girl who keeps extending her hand to him. Sunya, seeing Jamie's fascination with superheroes and Spiderman, claims that she's a superhero too. She proudly points to her hijab as part of her superhero costume. I loved Sunya. She's bold and fierce, loyal and kind. She doesn't shy away from her identity, even as the kids call her Curry Breath and other names.

While Jamie and Sunya's relationship is born of struggle, Jamie's relationship with his sister Jas is based purely on love. This is the relationship that made me cry. Jas is just a kid herself and she's lost her twin, but she refuses to let Jamie be hurt. She tries to do the job of two parents as best as her 15-year-old self can. Older sisters, be sure to drain the battery on your phone beforehand so you don't end up calling your mortified younger brothers.

It's sad to say that a book like this is timely and necessary, especially for a younger audience, but it is. It's also hopeful and surprising. A very strong debut by first time author Annabel Pitcher.

Rating: 4/5 stars.


I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

Bookmark Binge: August 12, 2012

Can't get enough of...

The Raven Boys?

Read the teaser chapters to tide you over until the release date.
Watch the animated book trailer  and then check out the making of by the author herself.  I had no idea Stiefvater drew the art/animated the trailer.  Amazing!  She even composed the music.
Don't miss Maggie Stiefvater's contribution to School Library Journal Where I Work feature.


Look at all these links lying around...
Looking to step up your literary tumblr followage? Here's a pretty comprehensive list.
An awesome gallery of retro library posters.
Absolutely gorgeous Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics library-edition series. (via Flannery's twitter )
Why Nathan Adrian is Real-Life Finnick Odair investigation. Spoiler alert: there's no mention of prostitution...


Coming soon -- What We're Reading and Reviewing... In Theory

Noelle:


Maggie:
 

Early Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Raven Cycle #1
Reviewed by Maggie and Noelle August 10, 2012
Published by Scholastic Press September 18, 2012
(YAA received an ARC of this book from the publishers)
Goodreads • Preorder on Amazon



Blue Sargent is the only non-psychic in a family full of mediums so when she unexpectedly sees a spirit on a routine dead walk on St. Mark's Eve, she's told it means one of two things: the boy is either her true love or she will be the one who kills him. Thanks to a unanimous psychic warning that if she kisses her true love he'll die, it could very well be both.  Either way, he'll be dead within the year.

Unbeknownst to her, Gansey and his Raven Boys are already on a crash course of fate with Blue, her family and his quest to uncover a sleeping secret that has the power to change everything.  But as Blue's aunt says, when you go looking for a god, don't be surprised to find a devil too and the quest promises to take Blue and the Raven Boys places they never expected.

Noelle: As you can see The Raven Boys has an intriguing premise and (raven) boy does it deliver. (Not even sorry!) The end of the prologue and first few chapters should come equipped with the Law and Order chime-of-suspense sound effect. Stiefvater sure hits the ground running.

Maggie: Definitely. This book had me at "kill your first love."

Noelle: I loved Blue and her family right off the bat.  The Sargent house is charmingly packed with psychic abilities, family dysfunction, louder than life personalities and just enough mysteries in the family history to be deliciously intriguing.  It wasn't long before another family dynamic, Gansey's Raven Boys, began stealing my heart too.

Maggie: The Sargent house gave me a Practical Magic/Pushing Daisies feel with charmingly kooky characters who happen to have some powers. I loved the boys right away. Gansey, the leader, who acted as instigator as much as mama hen to Ronan, Adam, and Noah. Ronan, angry, damaged, loyal... of course, I loved him. Adam, the perfect student with the neatly pressed uniform, except for the fraying seam at his shoulder noticeable only to him. Noah, the quiet one who they'd be more worried about if they weren't all caught up in Gansey's quest.

Noelle: At first I was like, so many rich boys in Raven sweaters! But soon it became clear that each boy had a distinct personality and something that made them especially interesting in their own right.  Each had cracks in their shiny veneers, some just more well hidden than others.

Maggie: This is my second Stiefvater book and I absolutely love the way she writes. She's atmospheric and descriptive, yet there's something timeless about her writing. We know this story takes place in present day with references to cell phones and BMWs, but I feel it could've just as easily taken place in an earlier time, or in England instead of Virginia. This is your first Stiefvater book, and I know for some, her writing just doesn't work for them. What did you think?

Noelle: It was my first Stiefvater and I was really surprised!  Besides the qualities of her writing you mentioned, I really appreciated how she kept me engaged the entire novel.  It was exciting to read.  There were a couple developments that took me totally by surprise and that doesn't happen that often.  I loved being swept into the mystery.

Maggie: Nerd confession: I love when I learn things from a book. This story with its ley lines, ancient kings, and Latin had me googling like crazy. Like with Scorpio Races, Stiefvater takes existing folklore and makes it her own. Plus, she even makes dead languages compelling (although this may have more to do with Ronan speaking said dead language). Latin, who knew!

Noelle: Stiefvater's writing was so compelling that it took me awhile to realize I was halfway through and not much had actually happened in the way of forward plot movement.  I got the sneaking feeling the series was conserving it's energy, if you will.  That's when it hit me: Ah, First Book of a Trilogy frustrations and unanswered questions! How I love/hate you!  While the plot definitely picked up the pace during the second half of the book (not coincidentally when all the players in the plot were finally interacting), it became clear that many of the tantalizing possibilities introduced in The Raven Boys wouldn't come to fruition until later installments.

Maggie: That ending. It totally gave me Lord of the Rings rage. (I'll never forget sitting through 3 hours of hobbit feet and elf ears, only to have the movie end with, "And we're off! To be continued." RAGE.) This is why I hate starting series before they're done because I want to read the next book immediately. However, I do love a good cliffhanger. (See: Exiles, Froi) A bad cliffhanger makes me want to find a cliff to throw the book off of (yes, I revenge cliffhang), but a good one just makes you that more excited for the sequel. This one made me more excited for the sequel.

Noelle: Oh totally.  The writing remained compelling straight through and while incomplete, the ending was still more than satisfying.  I can't wait to read what comes next! Rating: 4/5 stars.

Maggie: Maggie Stiefvater, you got some 'splainin to do! That was my initial reaction upon finishing Raven Boys followed immediately by, Actually, Maggie, just write. Rating: 4/5 stars.

Bookmark Binge: August 5, 2012

Can't get enough of...

Eleanor and Park?
If you haven't already, check out That Cover Girl's interview with Rainbow Rowell.

Code Name Verity?
Amy at Turn the Page interviews Elizabeth Wein about flygirls, Verity, and her next book.

The Ghost and the Goth?
Get to know author Stacey Kade in interviews with The Raven Happy Hour, Muggle-Born and Electrifying Reviews.
Stacey Kade also has a tumblr.


Look at all these links lying around...
Christa Desir tries out the "guess the story based on the cover" on her kids with YA books.
Via YA Highway's tumblr: Pixar's Story Rules, Illustrated in Legos at Slackstory.
Vintage Book Design launches their Vintage Children's Classics list with some amazing cover redesigns.  Check out the full list and watch the video.  My favorite covers are Little Women, I Capture the Castle, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and the Swallows and Amazons series.
Via Flannery's Twitter: This graphic designer designs a cover for every book she reads.
I wish I had a spare room to transform into a personal library.

Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
(The Ghost and the Goth #1)
Reviewed by Noelle on August 2, 2012
Published by Hyperion Book June 29, 2010
Goodreads • Amazon • Kindle • Book Depository


So, my normal allotment of reading time has been booked pretty solid lately but every once in awhile I'll get some unexpected free time when I don't have access to my Kindle or an actual book let's call these times "work breaks".  Eager to take advantage, I troll my library's Currently Available Kindle Book section to get some reading in using the Kindle Cloud function on my computer.  At the mercy of whatever is available at any specific time, I've read some pretty random books this summer.  At first I was hesitant to give The Ghost and the Goth a shot, but you know what? I'm glad I did.  It was surprisingly fun.

Have you ever wondered...what if Cher Horowitz had gotten run over by a bus and everyone thought Josh was schizophrenic because he was talking to dead people only he could see and hear?  You haven't, you say?  How about now?

(Why yes, that is a hastily photoshopped Ghost Cher and nope, I've never been named Employee of the Month. Why do you ask?)

Now before you get too excited, this book isn't nearly as amazing as Clueless (ugh, as if!) but it does feature a heroine in need of a wider world view and a hero that brushes her off as a shallow, narcissistic annoyance.  When a school bus and his supernatural abilities force them into a new alliance, both find they have quite a lot to learn from the other.

This is a lighthearted romp that easily surpassed my (admittedly low) expectations by adding quite a bit of humor and emotional stakes.  If you're looking for a quick, fun read with a great starring duo, this book hits all the marks.  And for those of you worrying that a ghost and a real live boy can't make out, any ghost within 5 feet or so of Will becomes corporeal, so never fear! Ms. Kade has your back.

The sequels aren't available at my library, but I wouldn't be averse to stumbling across them one day.  In conclusion, it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty! Ahem, I mean...Rating: 3/5 stars.

Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Reviewed by Maggie: August 1, 2012
Published May 15, 2012 by Hyperion Books for Children
Goodreads • Buy at Amazon • Kindle • Book Depository


Do you remember when The English Patient came out? Or rather, do you remember when the Seinfeld episode about The English Patient came out? (Elaine goes to see it and HATES it, and is either shunned or dragged back to the theater to rewatch because everyone else loves it. She ends up getting sent to Tunisia by her boss, J. Peterman, because the movie was filmed there. Cameo by Holly the waitress/witch from True Blood playing a waitress.)

I'm usually Elaine in these situations, so I worried a little bit after reading glowing review after glowing review of Code Name Verity. However, this book held my attention from the beginning, and I want to send all the Elaines to Ormaie for inspiration.*

Something that I see authors and filmmakers struggle with is how to portray a strong, kick-ass female who can hang with the boys and still retain her femininity. One way is to sexualize them a la Angelina Jolie, and another way is to claim they are the fiercest assassin of all time and then have them fawn over pretty dresses. See, she's tough but girly! Yes, I read Throne of Glass just before Code Name Verity. Elizabeth Wein, however, makes it look so simple with her portrayal of Queenie. Little details like neatly arranged hairpins and well maintained fingernails say so much more than a ball gown, and it keeps you within the context of the story.

Speaking of the story, it's set during World War II when most of the men are off fighting. Still, given the current state of YA, I fully expected a love triangle to somehow get shoehorned in. I did get a love story, but not the one I dreaded/expected.

"It's like being in love, discovering your best friend."

The friendship between Queenie and Maddie, two people from different backgrounds who wouldn't have met under ordinary circumstances, is one that I loved reading. It's the bond between two soldiers who contribute to the war effort in their different ways, whether it's aviation or language proficiency. The story jumps from present to past, but I loved seeing how their relationship evolved. One discussion that struck a nerve with me was when early in their friendship, they talk about their fears. In your 20s, the looming milestone is 30. When people asked me what I was going to do for 30, I would say, "Ugh, kill myself!" It's the vanity and arrogance of youth, of privilege, of safety. Queenie is the same, until that privilege is no longer in her control. She says,

"I am no longer afraid of getting old. Indeed I can't believe I ever said anything so stupid. So childish. So offensive and arrogant. But mainly, so very, very stupid. I desperately want to grow old."

Queenie is one of my favorite characters ever, up there with Evanjalin from Finnikin of the Rock. Her intelligence and boldness comes through the page, and Wein's writing exemplifies the principle of "show, don't tell." I loved this story of war, camaraderie, and sacrifice. I loved Queenie's mother, who left the windows open in her house in the hope that her children would be home soon, because this is also a story about faith. Queenie and Maddie have to have faith in each other and faith in the strangers on whose help they depend. This was one of my favorite books of 2012, and one I highly recommend. I have told the truth.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

--
*No Elaines were harmed in the writing of this review.

Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Reviewed by Maggie: July 30, 2012
Published in UK April 12, 2012 by Orion
Published in US February 26, 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads • Buy at Fishpond ($14.60)
Preorder at Amazon • Kindle • Book Depository



Timing, as they say, is everything. I read most of Eleanor & Park while sitting by the pool and listening to Call Me Maybe... on repeat. This book though couldn't be further from a Carly Rae Jepsen song and I wondered if I would've enjoyed it more had I read it at a different time.

It's 1986. Eleanor is the new girl in school. She lives on the wrong side of the tracks, wears unstylish secondhand clothes on her larger than average body, and has flaming red hair. Basically, she is a walking target. From the minute she first steps on the school bus, she is heckled and called "Big Red." She can't even find a seat on the bus until the one Asian kid silently moves aside for her. Park is the son of an American soldier and a Korean woman. Being half-Korean puts an easy target on his back, but he's friendly enough with the popular kids to keep himself out of the crosshairs. He takes pity on the new girl, but instantly regrets it and hopes she doesn't take it as an overture. They slowly and silently open up to one another through Park's comic books. Eleanor reads them over his shoulder, Park realizes this and takes his time turning the pages. The volume on their silent connection eventually turns up and they begin to talk about comics and music and Shakespeare and Han Solo.

But it isn't all comics and mixtapes. While this is a love story, it isn't a light story. Eleanor has just started living with her mother, siblings, and abusive stepfather again after he kicked her out of his house. Everyone lives at Richie's mercy. He's their only source of income, as he's quick to remind them. Park, on the other hand, has a pretty close to perfect family. His parents still make out like newlyweds and they live next to his grandparents. The main issue is his relationship with his father, who calls him a pussy for not being able to drive stick.

I asked my friend to send me this book because I couldn't wait for the US release. Attachments, Rainbow Rowell's debut published novel, was one of my favorite books last summer. She actually wrote Eleanor & Park before Attachments, but sold it after. I make the distinction because Eleanor & Park feels more like a first novel. For example, there's a scene where our two leads are talking and Eleanor thinks,

"Park's eyes got wide. Well, sort of wide. Sometimes she wondered if the shape of his eyes affected how he saw things. That was probably the most racist question of all time."

YA THINK? This passage though didn't make me reach for the That's Racist GIF mainly because it was so awkwardly placed. Eleanor thinks this then goes on talking about X-Men, but it doesn't have the effortless feel of, say, Jessica Darling, who you know says some shit.

The alternating points of view also highlight the lack of gray in the novel. Eleanor's family life is SO low while Park's family life is SO high. Eleanor doesn't even own a toothbrush thanks to her wicked stepfather, and Park is comparing his parents to Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. While we're on the subject of Park's parents, they have an amazing, wonderful marriage... that I found completely unbelievable. I definitely appreciate minority characters, especially Koreans, but if you're going to use them, use the experiences they bring to the table too. You don't have to, but in the case of an Asian war bride in the Midwest in the 80s, not doing so just made it seem unrealistic.

Before you think I didn't like this novel, I really liked that the two main characters weren't your standard leads. Eleanor isn't some quirky but cute Molly Ringwald character, or someone who only sees herself as big and awkward. She IS big and awkward, and that's not the central storyline either. Park says of Eleanor,

"Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something."

The way Park and Eleanor's relationship slowly unfolded and evolved was so well-paced. Behold the power of the mixtape! Their connection to one another was believable and sweet. The cover of the US edition is perfect:

I think people who enjoyed Ernest Cline's Ready Player One would also enjoy this book. There are a ton of references to 80s bands and discussions about comics and Star Wars. I don't know who Boba Fett is and I missed the snap, crackle, pop of Attachments, but I think an audience would appreciate the low, steady beat of Eleanor & Park.

Rating: 3/5 stars.