Review: The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe
by Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019

THE LAST VOYAGE OF POE BLYTHE takes place a while after Poe’s first voyage, where Raiders killed someone she loved. Since then, she has developed armor and weapons for the Admiral with the sole purpose of killing Raiders as efficiently as possible. But when the Admiral sends her out on another mission, things go horribly wrong, leading her to suspect each and every one of her crew. I really enjoyed this book. It has sort of a steampunk, post-disaster theme that differs from a natural disaster or alien invasion. This book is more of a mystery book than anything else, as each chapter gives insight as to what each crew member was doing, causing you to evaluate and reevaluate each of the crew. However, towards the end, the story jumps to an ending that I thought came out of nowhere. 

Review: The Inquisitor's Tale

The Inquisitor's Tale
by Adam Gidwitz
Illustrated by Hatem Aly

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 27, 2016

A peasant girl who sees the future, a Jewish boy with supernatural healing abilities, and a half-African monk with unnatural strength go on a journey together in 13th century France. Sounds like the beginning of a joke, right? Actually, it’s the plot for Adam Gidwitz’s book THE INQUISITOR'S TALE: OR, THE THREE MAGICAL CHILDREN AND THEIR HOLY DOG. Yes, their holy dog. Did I forget to mention Gwenforte, the loyal greyhound recently back from the dead? The story of Jeanne, Jacob, and William (the peasant girl, Jewish boy, and biracial monk, respectively), is told from multiple points of view as the inquisitor seeks out them and their tale. It is a story of friendship and faith, about doing what you know is right even in the face of danger. Throughout the book, we are reminded that these characters are children in a world that isn’t always kind. Gidwitz manages to include deep messages and heavy material while keeping plenty of humor and lightheartedness. I loved this book and I highly recommend it. Gidwitz’s writing style and the wonderfully human characters, along with the interesting setting of medieval France, make this a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Review: A Line in the Dark

A Line in the Dark
by Malinda Lo

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 17, 2017

A LINE IN THE DARK by Malinda Lo is a suspenseful yet heartfelt novel that explores concepts of privilege, sexuality, and friendship. Protagonist Jess Wong has had unrequited feelings for her best friend, Angie Redmond, for as long as she can remember. When Angie starts dating Margot Adams, a wealthy girl from a nearby boarding school, Jess feels more alone than ever. The plot takes a dark turn when Margot’s best friend is murdered, and Jess, Angie, and Margot find themselves at the center of the investigation. Overall, I enjoyed this book; I found Jess to be a relatable, three-dimensional character, and I enjoyed hearing her narration. To add suspense to the murder, the book switches from first to third person halfway through the book, but I missed hearing Jess’s unique voice.

This book did an excellent job of shedding light on the power of storytelling and artwork, as Jess works on a series of comics that mirror her own journey throughout the novel. The one downside to A LINE IN THE DARK was the loose ends remaining at the end; the conclusion felt abrupt and I was left wanting more. Despite this, I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a fast-paced mystery novel with a compelling protagonist. 

Review: Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down
by John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young People
Publication Date: October 10, 2017

John Green has done what I thought was impossible: he has out-John Greened himself. This is TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN in a nutshell: an emotional tale riddled with obscure literary references that only someone who has read an entire library would understand, the quirky best friend(TM), and too many internal monologues to count ...and I loved every second of it. More than just a romance, or a look at teenage friendship, or a coming of age adventure, TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN is about personal struggles with mental health and the inescapability of one's own mind. Aza, the main character, tries to live her life and not be controlled by her "thought spirals", but is held back by the very thing only she has control of: herself.

This book was a bit different from some of Green's other books, in that it was less plot based and more based on the internal emotions of the main character, but I think that he was really able to convey true and raw depth of the characters, especially Aza. His own personal experiences with mental health are visible through Aza; her struggles don't seem fake or exaggerated and are grounded in the roots of John Green's own fight. This is not a book to read passively; it demands a deep connection from the reader to actively root for and against the characters, often at the same time. Following the publication of this book, there is likely to be a trend in YA focusing on mental health, as seen in the effect of Green's other books after their releases, yet I doubt any of them will be able to match the caliber and power of TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN. There were definitely some problems, don't get me wrong. The freedom of these 16 to 17 year olds to do whatever they wanted is highly implausible, and the lack of any actively responsible parental figures is a bit strange, but these are commonly overlooked in YA fiction, whether it be a misunderstanding of the lives of modern teens or the need to further the plot, but it doesn't have too much of a negative effect on the novel as a whole. I was really impressed at this book overall, and hope that John Green doesn't take as long to write his next one. 

Review: The Careful Undressing of Love

The Careful Undressing of Love
by Corey Ann Haydu

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 31, 2017

Corey Ann Haydu’s THE CAREFUL UNDRESSING OF LOVE is a haunting and dream-like experience. The plot centers around Lorna, a “Devonairre” girl. In Haydu’s Brooklyn, there’s a little street named Devonnaire, and if you live there for more than a year...any boy you love will die. That’s what all Devonnaire residents have been told, at least.

Haydu’s novel is one that, even putting plot aside, I’d definitely recommend for the writing style alone. Reading THE CAREFUL UNDRESSING OF LOVE genuinely feels like a hazy, almost hypnotic experience. Really, it’s hard to describe! Just pick it up, check out the first few pages—you’ll see what I mean. If you’re into atypical writing styles and inquiries into what love is, you should absolutely move THE CAREFUL UNDRESSING OF LOVE to the top of your TBR list!