What's the Buzz? 10 Novels with Starred Reviews

June is one of the huge months for publishing. Tons of great new books are released right after Memorial Day, just in time for summer reading. What to know which ones have earned starred reviews from a variety of print sources? Here are 10 books on my eReader that were given special notice by professional reviewers. Do any of them catch your eye?

I've listed the books in alphabetical order, divided into young adult and adult. The quotations come from the publishers' summaries.

• All That I Can Fix by Crystal Chan (Simon Pulse, June 12): "A teen boy’s world gets turned upside-down when a zoo of exotic animals takes over his small town in this wickedly funny, heartbreakingly honest novel." Diverse read, humor, contemporary
• A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman (Greenwillow, June 26): "15 authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia . . . enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate." Diverse read, short stories/tales
• Wild Blues by Beth Kephart (Antheneum, June 5): "The threat of two escaped convicts and a missing friend lead Lizzie on a harrowing journey through the wilds of the Adirondacks." Art, friendship, survival (full-color illustrations)

• Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin (Ecco, June 12) "A gritty and captivating debut about a caretaker of an Appalachian nature preserve who gets embroiled in a dangerous bear-poaching scheme." Evocative descriptions of nature
• The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (Viking, June 19): "A novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris." LBGTQ, coming of age
• The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah (William Morrow, June 19): "A novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II." Women's fiction, wine
• The Shimmer by Carsten Stroud (Mira, June 5): "A high octane thriller laced with humor and a smattering of supernatural genre-bending. Set in Florida now and during the fifties." Psychological suspense
• Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman (Ballentine, June 5): "A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller debut." First selection in Reese Witherspoon's Book Club
• Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams (Riverhead, June 19): "Smart and inventive, an emotional page-turner that considers the elusive definition of happiness." Set in Louisiana, coming of age
• The Verdum Affair by Nick Dybek (Scribner, June 12): "A sweeping, romantic, and profoundly moving novel . . . about a lonely young man, a beautiful widow, and the amnesiac soldier whose puzzling case binds them together even as it tears them apart." Friendship, secrets, love

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8 New Novels for Teens and Tweens

If you like young adult and middle grade fiction, then you're going to love October. I have a number of good books on my radar, some of which have already been generating critical praise and high anticipation (for example, Maggie Stiefvater's All the Crooked Saints and Nic Stone's Dear Martin). The 8 books I feature here may have escaped your notice, but I recommend adding them to your fall reading list.

• The Breathless by Tara Goedjen (Delacorte, Oct. 10): This Southern Gothic debut is set in two time periods and involves a missing girl and family secrets. Reviewers note the elements of dark magic and the story's skin-crawling creep factor. Perfect for Halloween reading. (young adult)
• Calling My Name by Liara Tamani (Greenwillow, Oct. 24): Part coming-of-age story, part social commentary, this novel follows Taja, the middle child of a conservative African American family, as she navigates high school while balancing her family's wishes against new opportunities and friendships. Reviewers have loved this debut set in Houston, Texas. (young adult)
• Nevermoor: The Trials Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Little, Brown, Oct. 31): From birth, Morrigan was cursed to die on her 11th birthday, but before she meets her doom, she is spirited off to a magical world, where she's invited to attend a special academy and can stay to live a long life . . . if she manages to pass a series of initiation tests. This exciting first in a new fantasy series has earned several starred reviews. (middle grade)
• The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea (Delacorte, Oct. 3): The students in Mrs. Wood's sixth grade class are in a tizzy, not only do they have to work hard to please their parents, coaches, and tutors but the mandated standardized tests are coming up. Can students and teachers pull together to get through this stressful year? Another winner from the author of the Mr. Terupt books. (middle grade)

• Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin (Random House, Oct. 10): Based on the classic Grimm's fairy tale about Snow White and Red Rose, this reworked story focuses on the sisters' relationship and the creatures and magic that inhabit the woods surrounding their hidden cottage, where they live with their mother. The book is beautifully illustrated with the author's paintings. (middle grade)
• Strange Lies by Maggie Thrash (Simon Pulse, Oct. 17): Set in a boarding school, this mystery / thriller focuses on three teens who are intent on investigating a science fair accident (or was it?) that disfigured a fellow student. Broader social issues (including the racial divide) and dark humor round out the novel. (young adult)
• The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Dial, Oct. 3): Ada, recovering from an operation that corrected her congenital clubfoot, is sent to live with her aunt in the English countryside to escape the Blitz. There, Ada deals with her losses, finds new beginnings, and discovers her inner strength. Issues of disabilities, mental abuse, prejudice, and death underlie this beautifully written coming-of-age story that will have wide appeal. Although the second Ada novel, this much-praised book can be read as a standalone.
• We All Fall Down by Natalie D. Richards (Sourcebooks Fire, Oct. 3): This spooky paranormal thriller is about two troubled teens, each with mental health issues, who together must overcome the demons of a haunted bridge and their own fears to find peace and perhaps romance. Read this one with the lights on. (young adult)

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8 Books for October; or What's on My eReader

Just a couple more days and my current crazy work schedule will settle down to what passes for normal around here. In the meantime I can dream of reading these October books that currently live on my eReader.

• Be Good, Be Real Crazy by Chelsey Philpot: A road trip novel involving a young girl and two brothers. A story of friendship, first love, and self-discovery. (HarperTeen, 9780062293725)
• The Rift: Uprising by Amy S. Foster: Speculative fiction meets thriller in a story about a military-trained young woman who begins to ask whether the enemy is really all that bad. (Harper Voyager, 9780062443120)
• Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin: In a post-epidemic world in which humans are damaged goods, a lonely young girl sets out to build herself a companion using biotechnology. (Greewillow, 9780062408884)
• We Know It Was You by Maggie Thrash: The tagline sold me: "Twin Peaks meets Pretty Little Liars." A strange mystery surrounding an apparent suicide. (Simon Pulse, 978148146200)

• Blood, Bullets, Bones by Bridget Heos: The science of forensics throughout history, but focused on modern technology. Illustrated and using examples from real crimes. (Balzer + Bray. 9780062387622)
• Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand: The queen of the beach read concludes her popular winter holiday trilogy. Perfect escape reading to warm up your evenings. (Little, Brown, 9780316261173)
• A Most Extraordinary Pursuit by Juliana Gray: Set in 1906 Europe, a proper young woman accompanies her handsome employer in search of a missing duke. A new series by none other than Beatriz Williams. (Berkley, 9780425277072)
• The Starlit Wood edited by Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe: A collection of reimagined and new fairy tales by a host of familiar authors. Super black and white illustrations. (Saga Press, 9781481456128)

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12 Fantasies to Put on Your Reading List

For some people September is back-to-school month or pull-out-the-sweaters month, but for me--at least this year--September is look-at-all-the-fantasy month. The number of great speculative fiction books released in the last few weeks is almost mind-boggling. Take a look at this sampling.

Start a New Series

• A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess: This alternate history / fantasy series stars a powerful teen tapped to be the first female sorcerer. Set in a Victorian England the plot involves magic and monsters and a dangerous game of secrets, manipulation, allies, and traitors. (Random House)
• Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake: Triplet sisters contemplate their sixteenth birthday, when they will be expected to compete--to the death-- for the right to rule their country. Magic manifests itself differently in each girl; which one is strongest? (HarperTeen)
• The Changlings by Christina Soontornvat: When Izzy's little sister becomes lost in fairy land, she must find a way to rescue her from the evils that lurk there. Not only must she tell friend from foe but she needs to find a way to trick the Faerie before her sister is lost forever. (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)
• Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova: This first in series has already garnered much praise and starred reviews. It features witches and magic and finds its foundation in Latino myths and traditions. A teenage witch must travel to the land of limbo to save her family. (Sourcebooks)

Read a Stand-Alone

• The Graces by Laurie Eve: A much-buzzed novel about witches, black, magic, and sisters. Three powerful siblings are the envy of all who meet them, but the new kid in town wants to do more than admire the Graces, she wants to become one of them--but with secrets upon secrets, she should be careful of what she wishes for. (Amulet Books)
• The Inquisitor's Tale by Hatem Aly: Set in medieval France, this is the story of three children who possess magical abilities and tell their tales--Chaucer style--while outwitting all those who hope to defeat them. Nestled within the humor and adventure are jabs at sociocultural norms and lessons about prejudice. (Dutton)
• The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart: Mix a magical timepiece with a lot of secrets and one young boy and you have yourself a heart-pounding, action-packed mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. Friendly helpers and tricky villains keep our hero on his toes. (Little, Brown)
• Brightwood by Tania Unsworth: This story takes place in a spooky house that happens to be the happy home for our hero, who has befriended live-in ghosts and talking animals. Daisy's life is shattered, however, the day her mother fails to return home from a shopping trip and a stranger appears at her door. Can the young girl save herself, her friends, and her home? (Algonquin Young Readers)

Let the Series Continue

• Mark of the Plague by Kevin Sands: This series involves magic, medicine, and alchemy and is set in the early British Renaissance, rife with politics, the power of the church, and rival apothecaries. Our hero must find a way combat the black death while staying free of the authority of country and guild. Lots of puzzles to solve. (Aladdin)
• Throne & Bones: Skyborn by Lou Anders: This is the latest entry in fun adventure / quest fantasy series involving heroes, traitors, and powerful creatures. Good friends and questionable family are highlights of the story, which is told from multiple points of view. (Crown)
• Masked City by Genevieve Cogman: This alternate history series is set in Victorian England and is perfect for those of us who love books about books. It features librarian spies, dragons, and fae in a very cool world for us bookophils. (Roc)
• The Dark Army by Joseph Delaney: Witches, boggarts, and scary creatures abound in this dark fantasy trilogy set in a medieval-like universe. Our heroes find evil everywhere they turn as they fight to save their country from powerful enemies. Recommended for those who like to be creeped out! (Greenwillow Books)

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Today's Read: Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann

What if you were a teenager who was doing well at parochial school and enjoying a decent social life but ended up pregnant? All your choices are difficult, and each comes with consequences. Addie has no doubt she made the correct decision, but she is not the same girl she was before.

Public School Kids Always Ask

How do you meet guys
if you go to an all-girls school? . . .

Even if we brushed with garlic toothpaste
we couldn't keep the vampires away.

—Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann (Greenwillow, 2016, p. 1, uncorrected ARC)

Quick Facts

• Setting: modern times, Minneapolis
• Circumstances: Addie, a cross-country track star, starts dating Nick, a nice guy who plays the bass in a band. Soon they give into their passions, resulting in Addie becoming pregnant. After taking a pregnancy test, she tells Nick and her parents she wants an abortion. Afterward, her views on school, track, and her old friends change, and she must figure out who is she now.
• Characters: Addie, a student at a Catholic high school; Claire, her friend and track rival; Nick, her boyfriend; various other classmates; her parents; her track coach; her English teacher; Juliana, an older girl who used to go to Addie's school
• Genre, audience, style: contemporary fiction; young adult with strong cross-over to adults; a novel in verse
• Themes: coming of age, finding one's self, making choices and living with them, friendship, dating, young love, family, relevancy of Catholicism
• Thoughts: Heppermann explores tough issues in a respectful, nonjudgmental way. The poems are short and address different aspects of Addie's life over the course of seven months as she transforms from a carefree teen to young woman with a revised self-image. Addie has no regrets, but she has definitely changed—for example, her life is no longer an open book: Who will she tell about her abortion? How can she explain her new attitude about running? What about her religious training? Does still want to date Nick?
• Recommendation: I read this all in one go, finding it difficult to put the book down. Later, I went back and read the poems more slowly, fully absorbing the words. No matter where you fall on the issue of a woman's right to choose, Ask Me How I Got Here will make you think. I loved it and recommend it without hesitation. Note too this would be a wonderful book club selection for adults and teens.

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6 Books to Put at the Top of Your Reading List

I truly love being a freelance book editor, but it does have one drawback. Each year as winter wanes, my workload becomes close to insane, which means I don't have the time or desire to devour books for pleasure. But that's okay because my reward come April is to immerse myself in all the great books. Here are six (in alphabetical order by title) at the very top of my must-read list.

• The Arrangement by Ashley Warlick is a novel based on the life of one of my favorite (food) authors, M.F.K. Fisher. In particular the story focuses on Fisher's deepening relationship with artist Tim Parrish, while she was still married to her first husband, Al. The background is Europe in the 1930s, and rumors of war are still a few years away. (Viking Books, Feb. 2016) • I credit Christine Heppermann with renewing my interest in poetry. Her Ask Me How I Got Here is a novel in verse about a young girl who has to make a difficult decision that will affect her future and her psyche. (Greenwillow, May 2016) • One of my favorite fantasy series (read and listened to in my prebogging days) is Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori. I nearly squealed aloud when I heard she has another book coming out. Emperor of the Eight Islands is the first in a new fantasy / adventure series set in medieval Japan. (FSG, April 2016)

• I'm so curious about Jhumpa Lahiri's memoir, In Other Words, not just because I admire her work but because I'm interested in what she has to say about language itself and her decision to write only in Italian. How does an author make such a transition and how does it affect her craft? (Knopf, Feb. 2016) • When I first read Edna O'Brien, many years ago, I instantly connected to her writing style and her Ireland. The Little Red Chairs, her new novel, looks at love and desire in a small Irish village juxtaposed with contemporary violence and hatred. (Little, Brown, March 2016) • Just because Peter Geye's Wintering comes last in the list doesn't mean it's last in my mind. This is pretty much my absolutely most anticipated novel of the season. I'll be reading it on my first free afternoon. Can't wait to lose myself in the story: What happens after the elderly Harry Eide disappears from his sickbed, hightailing it for the northern Minnesota woods? (Knopf, June 2016)

What's at the top of your reading list?

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Review: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

The premise for Rae Carson's initial entry in her new Gold Seer trilogy had my name written all over it: a little bit paranormal, a strong female protagonist, and set in the mid-1800s. I could expect wagon trains, good action, and believable relationships. I'm happy to report that Walk the Earth a Stranger didn't let me down.

Here are my thoughts in a bullet review.

• What's the basic plot? Leah (Lee) Westfall was born with a gift: she can feel (or divine) the presence of gold. This talent served her family well in the twilight of the Georgia gold rush, until her parents are brutally murdered, their secret stash of gold is stolen, and Lee is left an underage orphan under the care of her creepy, greedy uncle Hiram. With few resources and no one to turn to, Lee disguises herself as a boy and hurries to catch up with Jefferson McCauley, her childhood friend and neighbor who left a week earlier to join a wagon train to California. Although she turned down his offer to accompany him, she's counting on his promise to wait "a spell" in Independence, Missouri, before he heads west. The year is 1949, and Lee's talents will be welcome at Sutter's Fort, as gold fever overtakes a nation.

• Lee (and Jefferson): Lee is fifteen when the story opens, and as the only child to a family that must hide its wealth in order to hide her secret talent, she has learned to help her father on the farm. She is strong, hearty, and a great shot with a gun. It's reasonable that she could pass as a boy because she can do the work of any teenager and has the rough hands to prove it. She's smart, realistic, and resourceful, but not so clever as to not make mistakes. This is good because it makes her human and easy to relate to. Jefferson is her neighbor and her only true friend. He's been bullied for being half-Cherokee and he's been beaten by his mean father. He has nothing to lose by seeking a new life in the west. Their relationship seems inevitable, but it's not built on starry romance. Instead it will grow on friendship, understanding, and trust.

• The journey west: Carson doesn't romanticize the overland journey west: People die, animals die, people make bad decisions, wagons break down, food runs out. In 1849, before the Homestead Acts, there were few trading posts, towns, or other resources between Independence and the west coast. It was a rough, scary journey. The dynamics of the wagon train also played a part in the success of making it to California: decisions have to be made and people have to pull together. When the issues cannot be resolved, everyone faces the consequences. In addition, for Lee, dressed as a boy and running from her uncle, even getting to the Mississippi River is fraught with danger, and we feel Lee's fear every step of the way.

• Some doubts: The focus of the story is on Lee (and Jefferson), and thus not all of the secondary characters are fully developed. Some of the people and situations come across as representative of a kind: the white men who shoot buffalo and leave the carcasses behind, the short-sighted family that brings too many useless possessions, the dangers of crossing a river, a child who is almost lost on the prairie. Regardless, other characters are three-dimensional and grow and change over the course of the journey. I suspect these are the people we'll meet again in the follow-up books. I also had a couple of issues with some of the details surrounding the discovery of Lee's true gender. But these were minor problems for me.

• General thoughts: Despite a few weaknesses, I like Lee, I love the time period, and I like the premise. Walk on Earth a Stranger is clearly the setup for the fuller story to come. We've been introduced to Lee, who has shown her strength, and Jefferson, who has lived up to expectations. We know the friends, and we also know the enemies. Lee's gold sense will be the future focus: If there is gold in them thar hills, then she will certainly be able to find it.

• Recommendations: Yeah, yeah, I know. You're sick of trilogies, and you've vowed to stay away from YA. Get over it! Rae Carson's Walk on Earth a Stranger has a unique premise, great period details, lots of action, a believable romance, and no clear resolution. The story could go in several directions, and I suspect that Carson won't be sugar-coating life in mining camps -- especially for a young woman. This is a fast read, so pour your beverage of choice, settle into your favorite reading spot, and get ready to dream of gold.

Published by HarperCollins / Greenwillow Books, 2015
ISBN-13: 9780062242914
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Other Worlds & Mysteries for Middle Grade Readers: A Fall Roundup

As I mentioned yesterday, many people associate middle grade books with magic and fantasy, and indeed some our favorite books fall into this category (think: Narnia and the early Harry Potter books). But the world of make-believe for young readers is much broader than just wizards' wands and talking creatures.

Although today's roundup starts with magical worlds it moves on to alternate history, mystery, and horror. Hold on to your pointy hat, and get ready for adventure, curses, and escape into new worlds.

Fantasy & Magic

• A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder is about two sets of sisters—water sprites and humans—who are as close as sisters can be. When circumstances threaten to separate the pairs of siblings forever, will the girls find a way to help each other? Major themes: sisters, family, magic, legends, and environmental issues. [Atheneum, September]
• The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB by Adam Shauhnessy is about what happens when 11-year-old Pru and her new friend Abe are selected by the Fantasy Investigation Bureau to help figure out why Viking gods are infiltrating their town and stealing from the museum. This magical adventure takes the pair on a clue-solving mission full of danger and excitement. Major themes: friendship, Viking mythology, trust, truth, and magic. [Algonquin Books for Young Readers, September]
• The Wrinkled Crown by Anne Nesbet is the story of how 12-year-old Linny leaves her rural home to seek a way to reverse an inadvertent curse placed on her best friend. If she and her travel companions can survive the many dangers of their action-packed journey to the city, they may in fact save not just one girl but the whole world. Major themes: the merging of magic and science, friendship, and fate. [HarperCollins, November]
• Rules for Stealing Stars by Corey Ann Haydu reveals how 11-year-old Silly and her sisters cope with their mother's alcoholism: They've discovered portals into magical lands that, at first, offer peace and safety. But when one of the girls is trapped in the other world, the sisters realize they must find the magic in everyday life in order to bring her back. Major themes: sisters, alcoholism, parental meanness, and magical realism. Audience: older MG readers. [Katherine Tegen Books, September]

Alternate History & Different Worlds

• The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon is an exquisitely illustrated alternate-history story about 11-year-old Archer, who longs to go on an adventure, despite the fact that his practical mother rarely lets him out of the house. But when Archer learns his grandparents may be stranded on an iceberg, he recruits his friends to help plan a rescue mission to Antarctica. Major themes: following one's dreams, finding compromise, friendship, and family. [Greenwillow, September]
• My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson is written in diary form and set in an alternative world in which mythical beasts and magic exist alongside the modern technology. When a dark cloud comes to take Gracie's younger, sickly brother away, the family sets off on a desperate road trip to find the fabled land with no magic, hoping to save Sam from an early death. Major themes: family, sibling relationships, helping others, and destiny. [Aladdin, November]
• Fires of Invention by J. Scott Savage is an action-packed steampunk adventure set in a land that forbids invention. When young Trenton and Kallista discover clues to a new machine, they cannot resist secretly trying to build it, little knowing that the finished project will unveil deep truths about their world. Major themes: friendship, creativity, oppressive government, and young love. [Shadow Mountain, September]

Mysteries & Puzzles

• Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver and H. C. Chester takes us to 1930s New York City and a museum of oddities, which is also home to four specially gifted children who form their own kind of family. When paying customers start dying, the museum owner is accused of murder, leaving the kids to solve the mystery or be out on the streets. Major themes: family, loyalty, friendship, and being different. [HarperCollins, September]
• A Pocket Full of Murder by R. J. Anderson is set in a world in which the rich have powerful magic, but the poor have only common magic. When Vettie's father is accused of murdering a university official, can she—with the help of her sisters and a street urchin—find the true killer? Major themes: socioeconomic divide, religious differences, friendship, sisters, and finding one's talents. [Atheneum, September]
• The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands is a clever, multilayered mystery set in London in the 1660s. Young Christopher finally got some luck when he was taken from the orphanage to be apprenticed to a kindly master apothecary. But when his mentor falls victim to a serial killer, can Christopher work out the complex puzzle that will reveal the murderer and save his own future? Major themes: friendship, crafts guilds, politics, and cults. [Aladdin, September]

Spooky & Suspenseful

• Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith is a Southern Gothic story about a boy named Hoodoo who dreams of being a conjurer, though he can't seem to cast a single spell. He does, however, have crazy vivid dreams, which get more intense after a stranger comes to town. Can Hoodoo keep the stranger from harming his loved ones? Major themes: family, folk beliefs, and the Jim Crow South. [Clarion Books, September]
  
• The Nest by Kenneth Oppel tells the creepy tale of how young Steve gets entangled with a mysterious winged being who claims to be able to help his deathly ill baby brother. The tension builds in this psychological thriller as Steve must figure out whom to trust and find the strength to overcome evil. Stark black-and-white drawings add to the mood. Major themes: family, good vs. evil, and manipulation. [Simon & Schuster, October]

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Best in Fiction: 2014

I know there are still two weeks left in December and I'm not done reading for the year, but I want to get my best-of lists up before everyone scatters for the holidays.

This year I have only two lists: fiction and nonfiction. I'm not making a separate audiobook list or food writing list.

Here are my top ten in fiction, in alphabetical order. Links lead to my reviews or blurbs. If there isn't a link, it's because I haven't yet reviewed the book. (Note: books read in 2014, not necessarily published in 2014.)

1. Nell Leyshon, The Colour of Milk (Ecco paperback, 2014): "beautifully written, almost lyrical in its pacing."
2. Tim Johnston, Descent (Algonquin, 2015): The tension is so exquisite it's almost unbearable.
3. Rene Denfeld, The Enchanted (HarperTorch, 2014): "A haunting novel that makes you think about what happens to children who have no protectors."

4. Lin Enger, The High Divide (Algonquin, 2014): "balances the wonder and dangers of the wilderness with a deeply emotional and complex psychological landscape."
5. Carrie La Seur, The Home Place (William Morrow, 2014): "about the complex ways home and place intertwine to make us who we truly are."
6. Colm Toibin, Nora Webster (Scribner, 2014): "[This] beautifully crafted novel is a testament to the importance of being true to oneself, even (or especially) during times of great change."

7. Peter Heller, The Painter (Knopf, 2014): "The stark prose and sharp descriptions [balance] us on the knife edge between beautiful and ugly, good and evil."
8. Christine Heppermann, Poisoned Apples (Greenwillow, 2014): "stark, beautiful, haunting, disturbing, and oh so very honest."
9. Bill Roorbach, The Remedy for Love (Algonquin 2014): "about what happens when two people who would have never normally met are thrown together under dire circumstances."
10. Elizabeth McCracken, Thunderstruck (The Dial Press, 2014): "a powerful, emotional collection that should be read slowly and savored."

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Review: Poisoned Apples by Christine Heppermann

In fifty short poems illustrated by haunting black-and-white photos, Christine Heppermann zeros in on the true messages we've been giving young girls for centuries and what those messages do to them.

Poisoned Apples is stark, beautiful, haunting, disturbing, and oh so very honest. Fairy tales and princess stories touch only the surface; no one talks about what happens after the wedding, the fate of the girls left behind, or how to become the chosen one.

Beauty, fashion, popularity, and sex appeal have the power to suppress the counterpressures to excel at school and work, to be respected for who we are, and to live our authentic lives. Heppermann exposes the contradictions and the dark side of waiting to be rescued by Prince Charming, who will likely be anything but.

The poems, which are based on the unrealistic expectations girls often carry with them past adolescence into young adulthood and beyond, address eating disorders, beauty and fashion, sexuality, men, feminism, and popularity and friendship. No hard-to-parse passages here; Heppermann's poetry is straightforward and strong. Poisoned Apples will help teens and women draw back the curtain of deception and let in the light.

Some passages:

It used to be just the one, / but now all mirrors chatter. / In fact, every reflective surface has opinions / on the shape of my nose, the size / of my chest, . . .

--"The Wicked Queen's Legacy"

Jill doesn't want me to feel bad. / Jill says Dylan isn't good enough for me. / . . . / Jill can't help it if Dylan asked her to the movie. / . . .

--"BFF"

She used to be a house of bricks, / . . . / She traded for a house of sticks, / . . . / Now she's building herself out of straw / as light as the needle swimming in her bathroom scale, / The smaller the number, the closer to gold, / . . .

--"Blow Your House In"

HarperCollins / Greenwillow Books, 2014
ISBN-13: 9780062289575
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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