About Sonia Gensler

Sonia Gensler grew up in a small Tennessee town and spent her early adulthood collecting impractical degrees from various Midwestern universities. A former high school English teacher, she now writes full time in Oklahoma. So far, her husband and cat are putting up with this. The Revenant is her debut novel.

The Snow Child

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Sonia Gensler

Ordinarily I review Young Adult novels here at Book End Babes, because they are what I write and, for the most part, what I read. (See my very first post at Book End Babes – Why Read YA? – for my explanation of why I love this category of fiction.) From time to time, however, I take a break from my inner teen and spend a week or so glutting myself on adult fiction. Thus, for this month’s recommendation I’m veering away from the world of YA to showcase the lovely debut novel from Eowyn Ivey, The Snow Child.

If you enjoy literary historical fiction, this is a must read. If you crave stories of survival against the elements, as well as tales of characters who overcome grief and rekindle love, you’ll find much that will move you in this novel. Even those with a fondness for magical realism may be intrigued by certain plot developments. And just so I don’t utterly alienate my constituency (hee!), there’s a thread running through part of the book that should appeal to lovers of YA romance.

If I haven’t convinced you to procure the book, this gorgeous trailer for The Snow Child is sure to tempt you. It certainly does a much better job of teasing the story than I could:

The Snow Child is a gorgeously written, compellingly plotted, and quite magical tale that played like a film through my mind as I devoured it. Let me know if you’ve read it or plan to do so — I’d love to know your thoughts!

How to Save a Life

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Sonia Gensler

As you may have noticed, I’m a huge fan of historicals, gothic mysteries, and — from time to time — sci fi and fantasy. Sometimes, however, I just crave a good contemporary YA novel. And when I do, you better believe I go straight to Sara Zarr. It’s such a gift to find an author whose books MUST be read, regardless of the subject matter. Zarr’s latest, How to Save a Life, may well be her best so far.

After the sudden death of her father, Jill MacSweeny withdraws from her friends, her boyfriend, and even her newly widowed mother. Her mother’s plan to bring a pregnant young woman into their house in order to adopt the baby seems both inappropriate and doomed to fail. Jill’s subsequent resentment prompts her to finally reach out to others. However, her efforts to reconnect with her boyfriend fail to bring comfort, and her manipulation of an attractive co-worker into investigating the birth mother leaves her confused.

The birth mother, Mandy Kalinowski, is an unusual young woman. Jill dismisses her as a simpleton. A reader initially might conclude that she’s a sociopath. Mandy certainly has kept secrets and manipulated people. But as we become privy to her past and the circumstances leading up to her pregnancy — and as we see how she responds to Mrs. MacSweeny’s trust and Jill’s scorn — we grow to care deeply for Mandy. The question is, will Jill learn to do the same before it’s too late?

I love the character arcs in this book, and the little plot twists and poignant moments that I didn’t see coming (though this was slightly inconvenient for reading on a plane — good thing I had plenty of tissues). Zarr’s prose is gorgeously warm and authentic, and it manages to be so wise without ever seeming heavy-handed or full of itself. (You know what I mean, right?)

I so admire Sara Zarr as a writer and as a person (check out her blog for nuggets of wisdom and reassurance). If you haven’t read any of her books yet, get thee to a library or bookstore this instant!

The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Sonia Gensler

As the title suggests, one of the most compelling things about Rae Carson’s debut novel, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, is its protagonist, Princess Elisa. In some ways, she is “everygirl” — a little self-absorbed, unhappy with her body, and entirely unsure of her purpose in life. In other ways, Elisa is unique. She bears the Godstone, which means she was chosen by God for greatness. She’s also highly educated and, despite her youth, quite shrewed in her assessments of people and situations. Its really the latter qualities that enable her to transform from a typically self-absorbed and physically awkward teen into a formidable force of political power.

As I might have mentioned before, I’m not normally drawn to fantasy novels. But when something gets as much buzz as this book did (it’s just been nominated for the Morris Award, by the way), I have to move out of my comfort zone. The story drew me in and kept me reading to the very last page because of character. You’ll fall in love with Elisa as she grapples for her true purpose and slowly gains confidence in her power. Her supporting cast of characters — a mixture of kings, priests, ladies-in-waiting, and desert rebels — is sure to captivate you, as well.

I’ll let Rae tell you more about the story and protagonist:

A Monster Calls

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Sonia Gensler

The monster comes just after midnight.

13-year-old Conor is confused — this is not the nightmare he was expecting. The monster at his window is wild and fierce, but nowhere near as scary as the dark dream that has plagued him lately.

Conor’s world is falling apart. His mother isn’t responding well to cancer treatments. His father is in America with a new wife and family. Conor’s friends have betrayed him, and his enemies bully him. The burden of his present and future solitude weighs heavily upon him. A monster who wishes to tell him three stories, and demands one in return from Conor, is the last thing he needs.

Fortunately, the monster is persistent.

Some might say this is a good book for children coping with impending loss and grief. I say its appeal is much broader than that. A Monster Calls is gripping on many levels and appropriate for various age groups. It is a story of loss and healing, but it’s also a mystery with mythic qualities and a realistic portrayal of a contemporary teen’s struggle for autonomy and stability. Add gorgeous illustrations to this complex narrative and you have a very memorable book indeed.

Be sure to start with the author’s note from Patrick Ness. Once you’ve read that and the first chapter, you won’t be able to put the book down. Just be sure to keep your tissues handy.

Who’s that girl?

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Sonia Gensler

Everyone is raving about Daughter of Smoke and Bone, the latest YA novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor (Lips Touch, Three Times) – and I’m no exception!

Karou leads a double life. At the outset, we see her as an art student in Prague trying to shed herself of a worthless boyfriend. Before long we see her secret life – perhaps her truer life – in which she speaks multiple languages, works minor magic, and travels the world procuring teeth for Brimstone, the unearthly creature who reared her from birth and is the only family she knows. Karou understands that Brimstone uses the teeth for a deeper magic, but doesn’t question further. Not at first, anyway.

This changes when ominous black handprints appear on the doors leading to her secret realm. Karou’s violent encounter with one of the winged creatures responsible for those handprints leads to revelations that fracture her understanding of the world. These revelations also allow her true journey of self-discovery to begin.

In the past I have steered away from stories of angels and demons, not to mention protagonists who are so achingly beautiful that it hurts to look at them. That stuff was too outlandish for me. Too over-the-top. This novel is over-the-top, but in a really fabulous way. The prose is exquisite, the characterization nuanced, and the pacing grabs you by the throat. Add to this a hauntingly gorgeous setting and an epic romance (literally EPIC) and you have the makings of an unforgettable first novel in a potentially stunning series.

I can’t stop thinking about this book!