Tag Archives: Young Adult

Mr. Mojo Risin’

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I love Noir mysteries, and I’m a big fan of teen Noir like Veronica Mars and Brick, but so far I haven’t found much in the way of Noir mystery in the realm of Young Adult fiction. There are plenty of novels with Noirish elements, but I’ve long been searching for a story set in a gritty urban environment with a teen character acting as detective in a murder investigation.

And now I’ve finally found it!

Today I have a fabulous YA teen Noir recommendation for you–a book praised by Kirkus in a starred review as “dead on” and “flawless fun.” And the best news? This book is 1) set in Oklahoma City, and 2) authored by an Oklahoman whose previous book was a National Book Award finalist (that has since been adapted into a film due to release in August). How exciting!

Tim Tharp’s latest novel, Mojo, is the story of Daryl, a teen blessed with smarts, a great sense of humor, and loyal friends, but who nevertheless is intent on improving his social status by acquiring a bit more “mojo.” After his discovery of a classmate’s dead body brings him a fleeting fame that soon turns sour, Dylan directs his attention to a more noble investigation–finding a beautiful rich girl who has gone missing. This requires interviewing the girl’s wealthy classmates from Hollister, an exclusive private school on the north side of town. To Dylan’s delight, these teens are not at all stuck up; rather, they seem pleased by his investigative efforts. Not only do they freely offer him information, but they also allow him access to their social scene. Dylan’s friend Audrey is skeptical, but Dylan can’t help enjoying this new sense of inclusion and coolness.

Is it all too good to be true?

Like all good Noir stories, Mojo twists and turns, taking the reader to unexpected places. This cleverly plotted mystery is told in an authentic and accessible way that will appeal to readers of all ages, including reluctant readers. Learn more about Mojo and Tim Tharp’s other novels at his webpage: timtharp.wordpress.com.

It’s tough getting Out of the Easy

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outoftheeasyOut of the Easy opens In the spring of 1950 with seventeen-year-old Josie Morraine dreaming of an escape from the sin and filth of New Orleans to attend Smith College in Massachusetts. She has the brains and ambition, but it’s becoming increasingly clear to her that these qualities aren’t enough. You see, the deck is stacked against young Josie. She cleans rooms for a New Orleans madam, her mother is a foolish and thieving prostitute, and the recent murder of a Memphis businessman draws a cloud of police suspicion and mob interference that threatens to tie Josie to the city forever.

Things aren’t all bad. Josie also works at a bookstore with her friend Patrick, whose father rents her a room above the store so she doesn’t have to live at the brothel. She has steady, loyal friends who look after her and who want her to succeed. Even Willie, the Conti Street madam, has Josie’s safety and education in mind. But Josie knows if she is ever to realize her dreams, she must completely sever ties with New Orleans. This means losing the only friends–the only family–she’s ever known.

The harder she pulls away, however, the more the city tightens its grip.

As with the internationally best-selling Between Shades of Gray (which I reviewed in 2011), Ruta Sepetys has created a strong-willed and captivating heroine who must make sacrifices and endure painful losses in order to thrive. The French Quarter setting certainly contrasts with the cold and forbidding labor camps of her previous book, but the danger is still palpable and the tension will keep you glued to the action until the very last page.

For a fascinating look at the story behind the novel check out this lovely video, in which Ruta discusses her inspirations and research.

In the meantime, enjoy the teaser trailer:

For love of Emily D.

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I am an Emily Dickinson fangirl. I’ve been to her house. I’ve stood awestruck by her grave (with really bad hair, sadly). I’ve stayed up late reading amazing biographies of her. I even have a finger puppet fashioned in her likeness guarding my computer.

I came late to this obsession. It wasn’t until graduate school–until I taught her poems–that I learned to appreciate her signature ambiguity. What at first seemed maddening and obscure became ingeniously universal. Even when my students claimed to hate her poems, they still recognized themselves in her examinations of faith, autonomy, passion, and depression.

But I digress from the point of this post. Today I’m recommending Emily’s Dress and Other Missing Things, in part because its protagonist feels the same way about Emily Dickinson as I do:

At the Jones Library in Amherst, there’s a collection of Emily Dickinson’s letters. This week I have spent hours staring at her handwriting. I know it’s idolatry that it does not matter what the words say, just that Emily Dickinson’s pen made these shapes, that Emily Dickinson’s hand folded this paper, that when I walk by her letter, I feel its light.

Claire, an eighteen-year-old repeating her senior year, is grieving two profound losses. Though she seems paralyzed in every other aspect of her life, her study of Emily Dickinson prompts a prolonged burst of creativity. Writing her own poetry becomes an outlet for repressed emotions, but it also draws negative attention from her English teacher’s student observer, Tate, who thinks Claire may be suicidal. Claire rebuffs his offers of help and burrows deeper into her fascination with Emily Dickinson, going so far as to break into the Dickinson museum after hours, to boldly try on the poet’s famous white dress . . . and to run away from the museum wearing that dress when the alarm sounds. Is it fortunate or creepy that Tate is there to rescue her?

Thus begins a journey in which Claire must learn how to trust, forgive, and somehow move forward, for at the heart of this story is a mystery only she can solve. Emily’s Dress isn’t light or easy, but author Kathryn Burak’s sensitive, lyrical prose (and poetry) make this book a joy to read. There is darkness to contend with, but readers will also be lifted by Claire’s wit and humor as she negotiates new friendships and the possibility of romance.

Any other Dickinson fans out there? Any Dickinson-related books to recommend?

Divinely Creepy

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Libba Bray’s latest book is available now! Run to the bookstore (your local indie, preferably) and snag a copy of The Diviners. It’s the cat’s pajamas! (The cat being that hissing black devil whose path you should never cross.) This is one to buy in hardcover, folks. In addition to being a great story, the book itself is absolutely gorgeous, though not one you can hold in one hand — it’s thick and heavy. So much good story crammed between its covers!

I’m as much a fan of Libba Bray the person as I am of her books. She’s funny, feisty and monstrously clever. Her Gemma Doyle series (Victorian English boarding school!) will always have a special place in my heart. When I heard that her next book would be set in jazz age, flapperlicious New York City, I suspected it would be a magical read.

I was right. You can find decriptions and reviews in just about every publication imaginable (or watch charming Libba describe it herself in this short video). What I want to tell you is that this book, the story of a group of teens with special abilities who work together to stop an occultish serial killer, is very unique and yet also brings to mind two of my favorite writers: Ken Follett and Joss Whedon.

Ken Follett can be problematic — his attitude toward women often disturbs me — but there’s no denying he is brilliant at weaving the stories of several different characters into one narrative and making you care deeply for each one of them. He’s also adept at bringing history alive, at helping the reader understand the sounds and smells and hopes and fears of a long ago time without ever sounding like a dull history text. So is LIbba Bray. The Diviners brought 1920s NYC to life and made me care for every character — especially the ones with a dark streak.

And what does Joss Whedon have to do with anything? Well, if you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you grew to love (among other things) those meetings in the library in which Buffy and her friends worked with Giles to save the world . . . again and again. There’s a similar dynamic in The Diviners, only in this case it’s a group of teens working with a professor in a museum. There’s something familiar and comforting about it. The museum, like Giles’ library, is a safe port in the storm . . . for the time being anyway. And the relationship that develops between the teens and their wise mentor is a pleasure to watch.

You guys, this book is such a delight! And such a HORROR. (Please note that the suggested reading level is 15 and up.) For a more visceral sense of the fun and horror of The Diviners, check out the brilliant trailer from Little, Brown:

Summer Reading Sunset

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by Malena Lott

Gone are the long wistful days of summer reading. Soon – some say Labor Day – we’ll all be officially back in the throes of school schedules and a vigorous fall work schedule. It also dawned on me that since I last posted a review, there’s A DOG ON MARS. What’s that? Not a dog? Okay, just Rover? Gotcha.

Anyhoo, speaking of gone, how about GONE GIRL, which we’ve reviewed here, yes, read it, liked it, shall read Gillian Flynn’s other two books. And back to school? I’ve got the remedy for that: BLACKLISTED FROM THE PTA by Lela Davidson. Speaking personal truths and being funny – what’s not to love?

How about a crime novel in the carpool line (you know you want to!). I rec Lou Berney’s WHIPLASH RIVER, which is whip-smart and stylishly written.

I also gobbled up BLACK MILK: On Writing, Motherhood, and the Harem Within by novelist Elif Shafek about her postpartum depression and struggle to fit writing and motherhood into her life. It’s a good one for writing mommies to take a look at if you’ve wondered about how women artists succeed – with or without children. Her “case studies” were interesting.

A quick bath read? THE GAP YEAR by Sarah Bird - another one moms of teens can relate to.

I think ebook shorts are the perfect thing for the carpool lane. A couple of new shorts are out by the Stinger line at Buzz Books: Jammie Kern’s Mythology High series: “Ryann in the Sky,” based on the Orion myth and her newest, “Taylor on Lockdown,” coming Labor Day; and Peggy Chamber’s “Bra Wars,” in The Apocalypse Sucks series. And if you’re looking for a fun and steamy women’s fiction read, I’m referring you to THE POOL BOY: A Short Story for FREE this Friday and Saturday. The Pool Boy is my take on the (sub)urban fantasy. Summer’s end, indeed. Buzz Books is has the summer gift of poolside recipes for free, so download a free pdf at the bottom of the Pool Boy page (looks scrumptious on the iPad) and get to that last summer soiree.

I have no idea what reads are up next for me, but I try to post pics of my TBR pile on Instagram as I get them in the mail and fed to Facebook and Twitter.