Book Review: Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

It used to be Anna and her mom against the world.  But then her mom started dating, and soon Anna had a series of stepfathers and an increasingly distant mother.  When Anna discovered boys, she found that there were new ways to fill the emptiness inside her.  Boys can be her new family, and that’s what Anna tries to make happen with Desmond, and Joey, and Todd.  But Anna is always left alone, with only her friend Toy to comfort her.  It isn’t until she meets Sam and is accepted into his family that she begins to understand what real love is–and what’s at stake if she were to lose it.

Erica Lorraine Scheidt’s debut is a tricky novel to write about, because the basic premise is going to be polarizing.  Readers are going to be divided on whether or not this one works for them.  Some readers will get it and love it while others will get it and be uncomfortable with the message it leaves them with.  Still others will miss the point and resort to troubling and misguided slut-shaming while proclaiming that they aren’t, you know, for the whole slut-shaming thing.  For this particular reader, the book works on every level, making it a powerful, raw, and oftentimes disturbing read.  This one should be in every library.

Scheidt’s spare, brilliant prose feels deliberate on every page.  As she unfolds Anna’s story, the reader can feel Anna’s pain as she is left increasingly alone by her mother.  The emotions in this story are palpable, and Anna’s voice is unfailingly authentic.  Anna is a tough nut to crack, but it’s worth the reader’s time and investment to get to know her.  She’s vulnerable but resilient, resourceful and, most important, real.

There’s a lot to unpack in this slim, sparse novel.  Scheidt’s exploration of sex as a way of empowerment and as a way of destruction is unflinching in its portrayal of teen sexuality.  Anna is trying to figure out who she is in relation to herself and others through the use of sex, and this is going to make some people uncomfortable.  Again, this is important stuff, and it helps underscore how hard it is to figure out your sexuality in a world where it is not safe to do so.

Of course, there’s so much more that can be unpacked here: the murky life lessons that Anna is learning, the fact that she continues to repeat the same patterns of behavior, the fact that she continually allows herself to be defined by the boys in her life.  Anna’s friendship with Toy is fascinating and worth a closer look itself.  This is a book that begs to be read more than once.

Not for everyone, but definitely one that deserves to be talked about and thought about.  Scheidt is an author to watch, and Uses for Boys is one of my favorite reads of the year.

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt. St. Martin’s Press: 2013.  Library copy.

 

 

Book Review: The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher

When Lizzie is caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night, her life is ruined.  The school turns against her and her best friend Angie cuts her off completely.  Unable to cope, Lizzie kills herself.  But when Lizzie’s handwriting is found on lockers and pages of her diary are surfacing around school, it’s clear that someone is not ready to let her go.  Angie begins to investigate these mysterious appearances, she gets pulled deeper into darkness over her own guilt about Lizzie’s death.

In all honesty, I’ve been putting off reviewing this book because I’m so conflicted about it.  On the one hand, Pitcher’s debut attempts some pretty difficult stuff, both in its subject matter and in it’s fairly unlikely protagonist.  But amateurish writing, a desperate need for tighter editing, and a plot that sort of fizzles instead of explodes makes this one hard to remember.  After finishing it several months ago, the details have all but escaped me.

That’s not to say that there aren’t things that work here.  Readers are likely to be riveted by Angie’s narration.  A mystery that reads quickly, this one has appeal especially for reluctant readers.  There’s enough intrigue here to fill the pages, and some of the secondary characters are interesting enough to hold their own.

But savvy, sophisticated readers are going to stumble over the novel’s awkward writing and stilted dialogue.  Pitcher doesn’t ever seem to be in total control of her prose, and the result is a clunky narration that jars the reader out of the story too often.  Bizarre metaphors and similes clutter the pages, some of which are so bizarre they’ll leave you scratching your head in complete bemusement.  Surely that can’t have been Pitcher’s intent.

At times heavy-handed and perhaps a bit too issue-driven, this one isn’t a standout, despite its best intentions.  Although it’s likely to find an audience and might open up a dialogue about what it means to give power to words, it stumbles far too much in its delivery and its message to really pack a punch.  Disappointing.

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher. Gallery Books: 2013.  Electronic galley accepted for review via Netgalley.

Book Review: Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

Nicole Castro is the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school until the day she’s splashed with acid on one side of her face.  The whole world takes notice, but no one can solve the mystery of who her attacker was.  When social outcast Jay Nazarro decides to investigate the crime, he puts his hacker skills to good use.  It’s when he gets to know Nicole that things get even more complicated.

Paul Griffin’s taut thriller will keep readers glued to the page as they race to figure out who splashed Nicole with acid.  Gripping, authentic teen characters and a snarky, slightly self-deprecating narration from Jay make this a standout in the YA market.  If you’re a Griffin fan or new to his work, this is one you don’t want to miss out.

Both Nicole and Jay are fully-realized characters who display growth throughout the course of the book.  Although Jay provides the book’s narration, readers are treated to snippets of Nicole’s diary throughout the novel.  Despite this, she remains somewhat of a mystery to readers and to Jay, which strengthens the book’s central mystery.  A cast of other characters and suspects make this a riveting read.

Although the novel starts slow, the build up to the satisfying and incredibly tense reveal and conclusion is well worth it.  Once it gets going, it really gets going, and while some savvy readers might be able to finger the perp before Jay does, the reveal is still shocking.  There’s a lot to think about and talk about here, and Griffin never gives his readers any of the easy, pat answers.

Definitely a contemporary YA novel to have on your shelves (personal or otherwise), this one is a standout in the mystery/thriller genre.  A deeply affecting author’s note (don’t read until you’ve finished the book!) makes it all the more poignant.

Highly recommended.

Burning Blue by Paul Griffin. Dial: 2012.  Library copy.

Book Review: Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar

For Abbie, her life revolves around three things: art, the ocean, and Kane, her broody surfer step-cousin.  Always out of reach, Abbie watches him and obsesses over him.  But when Kane comes back from a mysterious surf trip to an even more mysterious island, Abbie senses that something is wrong.  Kane carries a darkness that threatens to envelop them both.

It’s hard to summarize Eagar’s brilliant, darkly gothic novel without giving too much of it away.  The book is about a girl with a heightened emotional state, and maybe because of this heightened state (or in spite of?), supernatural events begin to occur.  Readers looking for an intensely atmospheric and engrossing tale should look no further than this one.  Eagar somehow manages to spin a paranormal tale that feels firmly rooted in the real world.  I’ve said it before and it might as well be my mantra: Eagar is an author to watch.

The atmosphere isn’t the only aspect of Eagar’s novel that entraps the reader.  Vivid, authentic characters propel the narrative forward.  Abbie is raw and flawed, and her obsession with Kane is only one thing that clouds her judgment.  Her love of painting distorts reality for her, as she struggles to see beyond the surface of things.  Her creative impulses mirror her other impulses, and readers will find her exasperating as well as worth rooting for.

Kane is harder to like, but because of Abbie’s fixation on him, it’s hard not to see the appeal.  He’s the quintessential surfer with a darker side, and while he’s definitely a selfish, hardened character, there’s no questioning his attraction.  Eagar is especially adept at creating characters who feel undeniably real: they may not be what you expect, and the story is the better for it.

Tension abounds in this taut novel.  Not every reader is going to “get” this one, and it’s certainly not the Eagar novel I’d recommend a person start with, but it has no shortage of merits.  Eagar’s prose is pitch-perfect, lush, and evocative.  There’s never a moment where she’s not in total control of her words, and the story moves along at a great clip as a result.  This is a stunning novel, and one that will stick with you long after you’ve reached the novel’s satisfyingly murky conclusion.

Recommended.

Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar. Penguin Books Australia: 2012.  Purchased copy.

Book Review: Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter

Evelyn is sixteen, wants to be valedictorian, and is pregnant.  She’s really a good girl who has been playing bad in an attempt to get her preoccupied, distant parents to pay attention to her.  The result, however, has lasting consequences.  When the baby’s father slacks off, Evelyn is faced with some difficult decisions.

There’s no shortage of teen pregnancy novels, so when a new one is published, it has to stand out in some way.  Unfortunately, Caela Carter’s Me, Him, Them, and It doesn’t distinguish itself as a standout issue novel in any way.  The pronoun-heavy title gives you the gist of the novel, its cast of characters, and hints at how crowded the story will be with its issues.

And it is a crowded story.  Carter attempts to tackle way too much in this novel.  Everything from adoption, sexual orientation, divorce, religion, and race is touched on here, and one gets the sense that Carter was trying way, way too hard.  The result is that nothing has a lasting impact.

A drawn-out narrative doesn’t help matters.  Carter’s story drags on for so long that readers will feel like 9 months have actually passed as they read Evelyn’s self-indulgent narrative.  This book could have benefited from some tight editing and a heavy hand with the ‘delete’ key.

Of course, part of the problem with the narrative is that Evelyn is such a hard character.  Reader reactions will vary with regard to Evelyn’s personality, but many readers will be put off by her selfish, brash approach to life.  There are times where it feels very authentic, but it doesn’t make it any easier to like this heroine.  A cast of flat characters does nothing to help the fact that the narrator is grating.

This might work for teens looking for every book about teen pregnancy they can find (it happens), but there are so many other, better options out there it’s hard to recommend this one.  Overly long and with a lead character many readers will dislike, this is best for readers who can power through to the fairly satisfying, if rushed, conclusion.

Me, Him, Them and It by Caela Carter. Bloomsbury: 2013. Library copy.

Waiting on Wednesday: Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.  Its purpose is to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

This week I’m eagerly awaiting:

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

Expected Release Date: May 7, 2013

Nikki’s life is far from perfect, but at least she has Dee. Her friends tell her that Dee is no good, but Nikki can’t imagine herself without him. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, he has her initials tattooed over his heart, and she loves him more than anything. There’s nothing Nikki wouldn’t do for Dee. Absolutely nothing.

So when Dee pulls Nikki into a crime—a crime that ends in murder—Nikki tells herself that it’s all for true love. Nothing can break them apart. Not the police. Not the arrest that lands Nikki in jail. Not even the investigators who want her to testify against him.

But what if Dee had motives that Nikki knew nothing about? Nikki’s love for Dee is supposed to be unconditional…but even true love has a limit. And Nikki just might have reached hers.

(summary via Goodreads)

It’s no secret that I love Terra Elan McVoy’s books, so there’s no doubt that I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of her newest book.  This one looks a lot darker than her previous offerings, but I can’t wait to read it.  If it’s done well (and my guess it will be), it’ll be a nuanced look at coercion and love and what happens when the two collide.  I can’t wait to read this one this spring.

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.  Its purpose is to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

This week I’m eagerly awaiting:

The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

Expected Release Date: May 7, 2013

Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.

That was all before she turned fourteen.

Now, at sixteen, it’s over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano — on her own terms. But when you’re used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr takes readers inside the exclusive world of privileged San Francisco families, top junior music competitions, and intense mentorships. The Lucy Variations is a story of one girl’s struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself. It’s about finding joy again, even when things don’t go according to plan. Because life isn’t a performance, and everyone deserves the chance to make a few mistakes along the way.

(summary via Goodreads)

Sara Zarr is obviously a huge name in the YA world.  She writes stories that are beautiful, moving, and memorable.  This one looks to be no different, as she sets up a fascinating premise that is sure to hook readers.  I like the idea of a pianist rediscovering her love of the instrument.  I haven’t read a lot of YA novels about musicians or child prodigies, so this one should be interesting.  You can’t really go wrong with Sara Zarr, right?

What are you waiting on this week?

Book Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Josie Moraine is living in New Orlean’s French Quarter in 1950.  The daughter of a prostitute, Josie is bright, motivated, but marked by her mother’s profession.  All Josie wants is to get out of the seedy world of New Orleans, but obstacles keep getting in her way.  When a mysterious death in the Quarter, Josie gets caught in the investigation.  Before the mystery is solved, Josie’s trust will be broken and she’ll find herself caught in a moral dilemma.

It’s impossible not to get completely immersed in this rich historical novel.  It’s the kind of historical fiction that will grab even the most skeptical of readers because everything about it is so rich.  The characters, the setting, and the story create a gripping, fascinating read.  This is a winner for sure.

Josie is a memorable heroine.  She’s got an authentic voice and is both street and book smart, making her the kind of girl readers will root for.  The fact that Josie will do anything to get into an elite college–including blackmailing a wealthy local businessman–makes her feel more human.  She isn’t perfect, but she is driven, and because Sepetys is such a good writer, Josie’s also completely sympathetic.

The book is filled with other equally rich characters.  Willie, the rough brothel madam, is excellently drawn.  Her fierce love for Josie is palpable, but her incredibly hard exterior makes it next to impossible for her to show it.  Other characters, including Cokie, the sensitive chauffer who acts as a sort of father-figure to Josie, are particularly memorable.  Although the cast is rather large, it’s never hard to keep them all straight.

A rich setting and a meaty mystery add to the book’s appeal.  Despite clocking in at over 300 pages, it’s a quick read, mostly because readers won’t be able to put it down.  The book builds the suspense and tension to a genuinely thrilling conclusion.  The resolution is satisfying but realistic, and it’s more than a little moving, too.

Definitely a stand-out read this year.  Highly recommended.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys.  Philomel Books: 2013.  Library copy.

Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

In 1986, Park meets Eleanor on the school bus.  They are both misfits in their own way, and the two form an unlikely friendship that develops into a first love so profound that neither can totally comprehend it.  But with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the two might not be able to stay together, especially when one of them faces an unsafe situation.

One could make the argument that this book has many common elements in YA.  To a certain extent, this is a true statement.  But there’s something about how Rainbow Rowell combines all these elements in this excellent debut novel that makes it special.  The precision and richness of Rowell’s prose combined with vivid characters allows this novel to transcend any tropes and become a singular reading experience.  This is one of the best books of the year.

Told in alternating voices, Rowell manages to set both voices apart.  Readers experience what the duo does: the funny, thrilling stirrings of first love and the intense feelings that come with it as well as the harder stuff of life.  Eleanor’s home life is awful, and the increasing threat of her drunk, abusive stepfather gives the novel an urgency.  The contrast between Eleanor’s poverty-stricken home and Park’s lower-middle class one is sharply defined and incredibly fascinating.  Authenticity rings from every page.

Well drawn characters don’t end with the book’s leads.  Parks parents are two of the most well-drawn and interesting adult characters you’ll ever encounter in a YA novel.  There’s so much nuance here, and so much detail, that it’s impossible not to get sucked into the world in which Park and Eleanor inhabit.  This is simply great reading.

Sexy, funny, and hopeful, this is a novel for YA and adult readers alike.  Immediately after finishing, this reviewer went out and bought a hardcover copy.  Expect it to make the best-of lists come next winter.  It’s certainly worthy.  Highly, highly recommended.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. St. Martin’s Press: 2013. Library copy.

Waiting on Wednesday: When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.  Its purpose is to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

This week I’m eagerly awaiting:

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

Expected Release Date: June 4, 2013

Danny’s mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.

Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn’t know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom’s property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother’s memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harijuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

(summary via Goodreads)

Daisy Whitney is definitely a name to watch in YA, and this book has been getting good buzz from librarians and book bloggers I trust.  I love a good YA novel with a male perspective, and this one looks to be pretty good.  It’s going to be a tear-jerker, I think, but it also combines some of my favorite elements: travel, a mystery, and growth.  I definitely can’t wait to read this one.

What are you waiting on this week?