An adventure in the wilds of Alaska. A creepy old house that possesses its inhabitants. A high school senior facing unique challenges in her college search. I recently read three very different books: one thriller, one horror and one realistic fiction. But despite the differences in genre, they all plucked at my emotions and had me glued to the pages.
The North Line by Matt Riordan - After a foolish mistake costs Adam his college scholarship, he hopes to make quick tuition money by working the summer on fishing boats in Alaska. The job introduces him to the rough characters, grueling routines and physical risks that are part of the industry. When the captain of Adam’s boat decides to defy striking fishermen, the danger escalates. The author draws from his own work experiences to instill real grittiness, tension, and even humor. My only criticism is that the author sometimes grows philosophical about nature, evolution, and purpose, breaking up the action. In addition, halfway through the book, readers learn that it is set in the 1990s during the Gulf War. It’s never really clear why the author includes this historical element, and it’s not integrated throughout the story. Aside from those issues, the adventure may appeal to readers who liked Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Peak by Roland Smith or Adrift by Paul Griffin. The theme of shedding your past and forging a new identity also may resonate, although the coarse language and references to sex and drug use may make this book best for older teens. The ending is tense, thrilling, and unexpected. A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat - After a failed suicide attempt, teenaged Libby and her family try to make a fresh start in a mysterious home that’s been abandoned for decades. But while the family struggles to cope with its trauma, it must also face the secrets of the house, which include a history of seances, rumored disappearances and creepy bugs - so many creepy bugs. The author deftly balances a story about a shattered family and mental illness with a thrilling tale of hauntings and the supernatural. Libby, her younger sister, their mom and a quirky boy next door are well developed and relatable. The supernatural elements will make readers’ skin crawl and the ending is fast-paced, tense and thrilling. The bugs may turn off some readers. The discussion of suicide may be too heavy for some, but the author focuses on the aftermath and recovery, not the act itself. While it may trigger some readers, who are warned in an author’s note at the front of the book, the discussion is handled honestly but carefully, showing how that level of desperation impacts everyone connected. Readers who like horror stories and don’t mind being creeped out will devour this book. Fans of Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury and White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson, other stories where the haunted house is almost another character, also may enjoy this. Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest - Effie is a high school senior who uses a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy, a condition that impacts her mobility and reflexes. She longs to go to college far from home and become a voice for people with disabilities. But she struggles with obstacles in her current school and fears leaving her support network of family and friends. Will her wheelchair keep her from following her dreams? Spoiler alert: of course it doesn’t. But watching Effie navigate the journey from a shy teen afraid to make waves to a confident advocate for herself and others is powerful. How she pursues her dreams and pushes past challenges sends a strong message to others. This book offers the rare perspective of someone with a chronic illness and a wheelchair user, and it’s eye opening. When Effie and her parents visit her dream school in New York City, readers see firsthand how hard it is for someone with limited mobility to catch the subway or cross a snowy campus. Readers learn how easy it is for colleges and businesses to make excuses for not being accessible, blaming the age of buildings or the cost of making upgrades for their failure to do so. The story brings to light sacrifices that people with disabilities are expected to make, such as forgoing the chance to have a roommate because the only dorm rooms that will fit a wheelchair are singles. When Effie tours a campus that has made strong efforts to improve accessibility, it is amazing what can be done, making the excuses offered by others even harder to accept. Readers with a disability or chronic illness will see themselves in the story, but so will any teen facing the decision about what to do after high school. Choosing a college or a career to pursue can be scary, confusing or, in some cases, ripe for comedy. Other books that cover this time period include Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertelli and When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon.
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Dystopian fiction deals with the end of the world - the collapse of civilization as we know it due to war, plague, alien invasion or some other calamity. Well-known examples are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, a war-torn society where children must battle to the death for an audience's amusement, or The Road by Cormac McCarthy, a dismal journey of a father and son through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Teen readers are drawn to these stories for the action and excitement, but also for the echoes of the real-world problems they have to navigate. A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher is a gentler kind of dystopian story. Instead of focusing on how society falls apart, it explores what the world is like for the survivors decades after. The story is told by Griz, a teen whose family is immune to the condition that caused the human race to lose the ability to reproduce and die out. The family survives on a series of remote islands where they farm, fish, and occasionally go "a-Viking," exploring abandoned places for anything useful they can find. It's not an easy life, but despite some hardship, the family is somewhat content. When a trader comes by and steals one of the family dogs, valued as much for its companionship as for its hunting, Griz jumps in his boat and gives chase. The pursuit takes him and his remaining dog to the mainland, where he tries to reconcile what he’s read in old books with the ruins he sees. It's a contemplative adventure as the reader sees the remains of our society through Griz's eyes. Recounting the story in a journal at the lowest point in his life, Griz draws us in with his tales of danger and wonder; we want to know how he got into trouble, if he'll find a way out, and whether he will ever find his dog. When Griz finally catches up with the trader, the story enters more familiar dystopian territory, exploring issues of morality and individual freedoms with a few reveals I never expected. Griz is a compelling narrator, full of curiosity and honest about his shortcomings. His relationship with his dogs will resonate with anyone who's ever loved a pet. While this may not have the edge-of-your-seat thrills of some dystopian novels, there is plenty to move the story along. In fact, when it ended, I was left wanting to know more about the characters, and longing to accompany them on further adventures. In the mood for a good supernatural thriller? Check out The Honeys by Ryan La Sala. The fast-paced, action-packed story pulled me in from the first page and kept me guessing til the last. Mars, a gender fluid teen, always felt less than his twin sister Caroline, who seemed to have everything going for her. The past few years, Caroline spent all her free time at a ritzy nature camp, one Mars stopped attending after a traumatic event. When his sister dies attacking him - an event his parents try to cover up and blame on a brain tumor - Mars wants to return to the camp to figure out what really happened. What changed for his sister there? Who were her beautiful and strangely influential friends, a group called the "Honeys" because they tended the camp's bees? While searching for answers, Mars finds something even more sinister than the elitism and sexism that pervade the camp. Is there anyone he can trust? Is the "hive mind" of the Honeys more than just a metaphor? Can he escape the fate that doomed his sister? In addition to an engaging story, the book offers an interesting look at class and gender. Mars is a dynamic main character who is easy to root for, and a unique hero in young adult literature. As for the villains, they're not always who you think they are, and the final reveals may take you by surprise. Realistic fiction stories provide readers with "windows and mirrors," a look into others' lives and a reflection of their own. In addition to providing engaging stories, these books validate readers who see themselves and help us build empathy for others. Some of the library's newest realistic titles tackle illness, family secrets, going viral, healing and finding your place in the world.
Fear of Missing Out by Kate McGovern - When a teen learns her cancer has returned, she sets out on a road trip with her boyfriend and best friend to investigate a possible new technology that could freeze her body until a cure is found. If you liked The Fault in Our Stars by John Green or Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon, check this one out. The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho - May’s brother seems to have everything going for him. So when he commits suicide, her family is turned upside down. Their pain is made worse when a local businessman blames the Asian-American family for the death and several other suicides, saying the culture puts too much pressure on teens to achieve. May strikes back with her writing, but speaking up has consequences she doesn't expect. It also makes her realize that the racism she’s struggling with is nothing new to her Black best friends. This is a sad story with a hopeful, empowering ending as May and her friends work to ensure everyone has a voice, no matter their background or struggle. The Kids are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony - When Thomas and Savannah’s mom dies, they are desperate to learn who their biological father is. They decide a podcast could help them track down mom's friends and help tell their story. Their efforts go viral, and as they draw more listeners, they also draw controversy. Everyone from feminists to men's rights advocates to First Amendment activists begin to weigh in. Is finding their dad worth all the mayhem that comes with it? And will the guy be worth finding? A story of siblings, family secrets, finding yourself and growing up in a world when everything is shared on social media. The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia - This is one of several books we have that see Deafness as something to celebrate, not to pity or fix. The author uses a combination of text, paint, collage and drawings to tell the story of Piper, who is so busy trying to survive that she doesn’t know what it’s like to live. When she meets Marley, Piper begins to see her Deafness isn't something to hide, and she's determined to use her voice to help others. The story veers into the dystopian genre because it’s based in a world with environmental collapse and political corruption. If you're interested in this topic, you can also try True Biz by Sara Novic, The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais and The Sign for Home by Blair Fell. An Appetite for Miracles by Laeken Zea Kemp - Danna struggles to reconnect with her ailing grandfather, hoping his favorite foods will ease his dementia and restore some of his memories. Raul has been lost since his mother went to jail for a wrongful conviction several years ago. When they meet at a nursing home, they feel an instant connection and team up on a journey to heal themselves and those they love. Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Reyes - Yamilet is one of the few Mexican-American students in her affluent religious school, but, she tells herself, at least no one knows she’s gay. She’s determined to keep it that way -- and protect her brother, make her mom proud and not fall in love. But it’s not so easy when the school’s only openly queer student catches her eye. A funny, honest story about growing up and finding yourself. Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen Lee - When Savannah gets a full scholarship to an ivy league school, she expects to meet other students who have worked just as hard as she has. She's dismayed to discover the racism, hypocrisy and entitlement on campus. When the statue of the school's first Black president is vandalized, she's outraged. But speaking up could put her scholarship and future at risk. Recommended for readers interested in social justice or anyone who's been torn about speaking out. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is dystopian novel. But like Internment by Samira Ahmed, the premise is not such a big leap from our current reality. The story imagines our country has gone through a terrible recession and violent unrest, only settled by a law prohibiting anything foreign or unpatriotic. Asian-Americans unfairly bear the blame for the country's problems, and any criticism of the new rules is quickly squashed: protests are stifled, books are removed from libraries and children are taken from “unfit” parents. Still, a resistance rises, one that uses story and art to amplify voices that are being silenced. It’s not an action-packed book, focusing heavily on the families and friendships torn apart, so it’s not exactly a thriller. But it’s not science fiction or straight realistic either. It’s a bit of a slow build as you follow 12-year-old Bird, his enigmatic mother and those who support the resistance. I was particularly happy to see libraries and librarians play a crucial role. The author, who is known for family dramas like Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You, says she was inspired by our current divisive politics and the anti-Asian sentiment stirred up by COVID.
Internment was similarly inspired by politics and American history. In the near future, the U.S. government has imprisoned all Muslim-Americans in internment camps, including 17-year-old Layla and her family. Even though they are citizens, they are stripped of their rights and possessions and considered enemies of the state. This echoes what happened to Japanese-Americans during World War II. It also draws on the hate and fear directed at Muslims after the September 11th attacks committed by radicals in the name of their religion. This is a fast-paced, thrilling story of tolerance and reason triumphing over fear and hate. It also highlights the danger we face when we stay silent in the face of injustice. There are countless examples of dystopian novels, including The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and 1984 by George Orwell. But in each of those books, something catastrophic has happened and our world is barely recognizable. In Our Missing Hearts and Internment, the world is very familiar. The good – and the bad – feel very real. Perhaps that is why these books have such a strong impact.
In a society that accepts witches but regulates the use of magic, teenage witch Iris is struggling to move on after her friend’s misuse of magic turns deadly. Iris was cleared of wrongdoing, but the tragedy tears her family apart, forcing her and her mom to start new lives across the country. It leads Iris to hide her magic, especially from Pike Alder, a coworker at her mom’s nature refuge who hates witches and drives her crazy. But in a fit of frustration, Iris casts a spell she never intended to use. The result could mean deadly consequences for Pike and the new life Iris has built. It forces them to team up on a mission into the mountains surrounding the refuge in search of an injured owl who holds the key to the miscast spell. Will Iris be able to fix things while still keeping her magical secret from Pike? Or will the worst happen, causing her to violate the laws of magic and lose everything she holds dear? Wild is the Witch, a 2022 release by Rachel Griffin, is a page-turner that combines magic, nature and romance. The idea of magic as an organic force that can be channeled rather than controlled is refreshingly different from many other fantasy stories. The adventure in nature and Iris’ connection to animals reminded me of classic books by Gary Paulsen (Hatchet) and Jean Craighead George (Julie of the Wolves, My Side of the Mountain). The relationship between Iris and Pike is typical of many young adult romance novels where enemies forced together end up friends, and sometimes more. In addition, there is a positive depiction of a lesbian relationship. Author Ruta Sepetys calls herself a "seeker of lost stories." Her award-winning novels shed light on people and events often overlooked in history. "Through character and story," she writes on her website, "historical statistics become human and suddenly we care for people we’ve never met, we can find their country on a map, and then—the history matters. Through historical fiction we can give voice those who will never have a chance to tell their story. "
Sepetys' passion comes through in well-researched, powerful stories suitable for both teens and adults. Whether set in one of Stalin's Siberian gulags, a New Orleans run by the mob, or a crumbling Cold War dictatorship, her books explore the depths of human cruelty and resilience. She often has multiple characters tell the story so you learn that history has many different perspectives and layers. If you like historical fiction, or even just thrilling stories of surival, check out her books. Between Shades of Gray follows 15-year-old Lina who is sent with her family to a Siberian gulag (prison) when the Soviets invade her native Lithuania. As she struggles in unimaginable conditions - including brutal treatment from guards, meager food rations and extreme weather - she vows to share the story with the world. Sepetys was inspired by the experiences of relatives who were among the millions of people who Stalin deemed enemies of the state and sent to Siberia during his regin of terror (1922-1953). Many never made it home. Salt to the Sea is a story of the largest maritime disaster in history, killing more people than the sinking of the Titanic or Lusitania. It was largely ignored by history, though, overshadowed by so many other stories of World War II. As the Nazi losses were mounting in 1945, thousands of German civilians fled the rampaging Russian army. They flooded two ports in hopes of evacuation, joining countless wounded German soldiers on overcrowded ships. When the Wilhelm Gustloff was hit by Russian torpedoes, it sank within an hour, taking about 9,000 people - mostly women and children -with it. Sepetys tells the story from four points of view, drawing a complex picture of the hatred among nations that led to, and resulted from, that awful war. Out of the Easy takes places in New Orleans in 1950s, where the mob rules and crime thrives along with the rich culture of the city. Josie, 17, dreams of life far from the brothels where her mother has carved out a desperate existence. But as Josie strives for a way out, she becomes tangled in a murder investigation that tests her loyalties. The story explores what makes a family, the burdens of poverty and the gray area between crime and survival. I Must Betray You is the most contemporary of Sepetys' stories, taking place in 1989. The Soviet Union is on the brink of collapse, along with communism throughout Europe. Romania is still within the grip of a brutal dictator when 17-year-old Cristian is forced to become a government informant. He must decide whether to cooperate and turn against his friends and family, or risk his life to fight for a better future. The Fountains of Silence follows Daniel, a wealthy 18-year-old tourist who visits Madrid in 1957, when Spain is ruled by a tyrannical general after a bloody Civil War. Madrid is a beautiful city in a country ruled by fear and repression, but the affluent Daniel is slow to realize how bad things are. When he meets Ana, a hotel maid whose father was killed and mother imprisoned in the resistance, he falls in love. He also is drawn into the dangerous world of secrets she inhabits. Imagine if the government deemed you and your family a threat to national security. You’re told to pack what you can carry and report for relocation, not knowing if you’ll ever see your home, community or possessions again.
This is what happened to thousands of people of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast after the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. While the United States had previously watched World War II from afar, the conflict now hit closer to home than ever imagined. The U.S. government turned its sights on possible spies and saboteurs within its own borders, focusing on Japanese Americans and immigrants. Some of these prisoners - referred to as internees or evacuees throughout history - were U.S. citizens. Some had lived in the country for decades, but hadn’t been allowed to become citizens because of immigration laws. Many had children born here, who were citizens no matter their parentage. Yet all were treated the same, their rights stripped from them because they looked like the enemy, imprisoned in isolated and inhospitable “internment camps” with uncertain futures. There have been many books written about this awful chapter in American history. One of the latest, We Are Not Free by Tracy Chee, is a moving novel sharing the stories of 14 teens from one San Francisco community. What I liked about this book is that it covers many different experiences: the Americanized teen trying to make the best of life in the camps, which offer dances and sports to counter the barbed wire and armed guards; the young man who enlists in the Army because he believes in America despite what it’s done to his family; the conflicted youth whose parents would rather return to Japan than deal with such poor treatment; the teens who protest the harsh living conditions. With a chapter told from the point of view of each character, the reader learns a lot more about the time period than they might from their history textbooks. While there may have been some cases where people of Japanese ancestry acted as spies in the war, most families who were imprisoned were innocent victims of bigotry and fear. The chapter about a young man named Twitchy is especially powerful, based on the real experiences of Japanese-American Army units who saw some of the toughest fighting of the war. If this topic interests you, here are a few more recommendations: The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell - While We are Not Free touches on the experience of imprisoned families facing deportation to Japan, this nonfiction book goes into much more depth. For one thing, it wasn’t just Japanese immigrants who were imprisoned in camps during World War II; there were Germans in America who were considered dangerous as well. When these immigrants - mostly men who pledged loyalty to the U.S. and were never charged with a crime - were jailed in camps, their wives and children would join them rather than struggle to survive on their own. If the men were deported, the children followed without question, even if they were born in America and therefore citizens. The author describes one such family that was sent to a Japanese city devastated by an atomic bomb; there were neither the resources nor the goodwill to welcome them and the family struggled to survive. Manzanar by John Armor and Peter Wright - In commentary by a journalist who covered World War II and stark black and white photographs, this nonfiction book details life in one of the largest prison camps for Japanese Americans. While the camps offered things like Boy Scout troops, dances and softball leagues, they also featured tall barbed wire fences and armed guards. Homes were crowded barracks that barely provided shelter from the harsh weather of the isolated mountain or desert regions where camps were built. Food was rationed, mail was censored, and prisoners lost hope. Internment by Samira Ahmed - Although fiction, the premise of this story feels a little too easy to imagine. It's the near future, and the U.S. government has imprisoned all Muslim-Americans in internment camps, including 17-year-old Layla and her family. Even though they are citizens, they are stripped of their rights and possessions and considered enemies of the state. This echoes what happened to Japanese-Americans during World War II. It also draws on the hate and fear directed at Muslims after the September 11th attacks committed by radicals in the name of their religion. This is a fast-paced, thrilling story of tolerance and reason triumphing over fear and hate. It also highlights the danger we face when we stay silent in the face of injustice. Zombie plagues have been the rage in TV, movies and books for years. But setting a Zombie plague during the American Civil War? Now that’s something new. Justina Ireland turns historical fiction on its head with her two-book series Dread Nation. Titled Rise Up and Deathless Divide, the books explore the racial, social and economic impacts of the ‘War Between the States’ and give new meaning to the term Reconstruction, the period of rebuilding and reunifying society after the war’s end. While no book involving zombies can be historically accurate, the stories build on the real people, events and issues of the time to highlight the brutality of slavery and the inequality that remained as the country moved forward – and westward. As the author explains in her notes, she wrote the books to give voice to characters often left out of history. The books focus on Jane and Katherine, two Black teens taken from their homes after the dead begin to rise during the Battle of Gettysburg. Like other children of their race, they are deemed inferior – and therefore expendable – and sent to boarding schools that train them to protect rich whites from the undead. (These boarding schools resembled the facilities that Native Americans were sent to in the 1800s, when the U.S. government stole their land and forced their assimilation) The girls excel in their training, but before they can be assigned to protect society ladies, they uncover a sinister plot to build a “utopia” to replace the Eastern cities falling to the zombie plague. This new community is founded on the principles of Jim Crow, the discriminatory laws that rose to continue the oppression of Blacks after slavery was abolished. This means Blacks have no rights and are assigned the most dangerous jobs and the worst living conditions. Tough-hearted and quick to temper, Jane resolves not just to survive, but to find an escape. Light-skinned and able to pass as White, Katherine plays along with the cruel society in order to help Jane’s plan to secure their freedom. There are tense battles, sorrowful deaths, cruel betrayals, heart-wrenching romances and epic friendships. And that’s just in book one. In the second book, the main characters venture west. Alive but forever changed, one seeks safety and peace while the other pursues vengeance. The books are a unique way to explore the issues of American history including slavery and Reconstruction, the government’s treatment of Native Americans, the cultural clashes that came with waves of immigration, expansion of the western frontier, and the search for the “American dream.” But if you aren’t really interested in the history, the books aren’t slowed down by it. The series provides enough action and adventure for any reader. |
AuthorMrs. McHugh is a librarian and instructional technology specialist. She loves talking books and pop culture with her students at Hanover High School. Archives
February 2024
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