Otherworld
by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 31, 2017
When Simon’s best friend, Kat, is diagnosed with “Locked-in” syndrome, Simon is horrified. Fortunately, there is an experimental technology that puts a patient's mind in a virtual world, free to do whatever they want while crippled in the real world. In order to communicate with Kat, Simon sends himself into the virtual world and tries to bring her mind back to her body.
This book very quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. Most of the characters are well developed by the end of the novel, and most characters serve a purpose that is essential for the plot. One thing I really enjoyed about OTHERWORLD is that the romance (which seems almost mandatory in most new Science Fiction books) does not seem forced; Simon develops a romantic relationship with his best friend, not someone who he just met. To me, this book clearly draws inspiration from both READY PLAYER ONE and The Matrix. It raises questions such as “at what point is something artificial alive?”, and “is humanity becoming too dependent on technology?”. One of my favorite aspects of OTHERWORLD is that it has the potential to be realistic. The only unrealistic aspect is the advanced technology, but it is within reason that it is something humans can invent in the foreseeable future. OTHERWORLD is full of conspiracy theories that keep readers questioning what they think they know.
The story ends with a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait until the next book comes out. This book reminded me of READY PLAYER ONE and The Matrix.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase
by Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 24, 2017
Holly Chase is dead. Kind of. For the past five years, she’s been stuck in a limbo working for Project Scrooge as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past. This year’s assignment is different from the rest, though. For one, he’s super cute…
THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE is a delightful twist on A CHRISTMAS CAROL. It’s the perfect fun and easy YA novel. Cynthia Hand has a distinctive style. Though her characters can sometimes border on clichés, she makes up for it with witty dialogue and plot twists. The novel will appeal to anyone who’s in the mood for some Christmas romance, humor, and ultimately heartbreak.
Long Way Down
by Jason Reynolds
Publisher: Atheneum
Publication Date: October 24, 2017
LONG WAY DOWN is the story of Will, a young boy whose brother was just shot down and killed. Following the rules of his neighborhood- Don’t Cry, Don’t Snitch, Get Revenge- he seeks his brother’s killer. But now in an elevator ride down to the street he begins to realize that sometimes bullets miss. And there is always someone else who knows the rules.
Told in lyrical verse, I really enjoyed this book. The author uses this method to give a new meaning to words that would otherwise be meaningless. The whole story is told in a bit longer than sixty seconds which creates a panicky feel to the story. Reynolds also uses slang of this particular neighborhood that adds to the realness of the story despite it being written in verse. The urgency of the situation is also magnified by the fact that the main character is only fifteen years old, a strange age for someone to be preparing to shoot someone down. But his stream of thoughts is accurate for someone of his age and connects more with the readers.
This book is perfect for contemporary book lovers looking for their next obsession. It is definitely one that will leave you thinking, both because of the situation itself and because of the double meaning ending. Throughout the book, you are constantly forced to stop and think both because of the words used and the imagery provoked. I would recommend this book for older readers because of the situation and some of the language used.
Calling My Name
by Liara Tamani
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: October 24, 2017
Taja Brown, an African American girl living in Houston, Texas, narrates CALLING MY NAME by Liara Tamani. Throughout this coming of age novel, Taja grapples with the expectations of her parents, her relationship with God, her sexuality, and her own personal aspirations.
Because the novel begins when Taja is in middle school and ends after she finishes high school, it felt as though I was growing up alongside her, instead of reading her stories as an outsider. Taja beautifully develops her narrative voice over the course of the story, which was a rewarding process for me to experience as a reader. This immediately personal relationship with the main character, along with Tamani’s subdued (while still powerful) writing style, makes CALLING MY NAME easy to connect to for any teenager.
Readers who enjoyed the vignette-like structure and poetic language of Sandra Cisneros’s THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET will want to give CALLING MY NAME a try.
The Glass Spare
by Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publication Date: October 24, 2017
THE GLASS SPARE tells the story of Wil, a princess of Arrod with a dark secret. Kept hidden from the public eye to serve as a spy for her father, Wil is attacked and almost killed when she discovers that her touch turns living things to stone. And not regular stone, but gemstone. First, she finds it amazing and tests her limits but then tragedy strikes, sending her on the run. Her search for a cure now puts her in the path of a cursed prince who hopes to use her for his own goals. Now she must decide: help a kingdom at the brink of war save itself, or betray her family forever?
Paired with an entertaining steampunk-like world and great storytelling, this book was amazing. I love that the author found a way to make the book really feel alive. The dynamic between Wil and her three brothers was so entertaining and each one was unique; by the end of the book you will wish that you had brothers like them. The side characters all felt fully fleshed out with their wants and little quirks shown proud to the reader. The author does a great job at showing the different sides of the world, from rich castles to impoverished cities--you can really travel the world with this book. Honestly, my only complaint with this book is the length and how I wish it could have been longer. But, this does mean that there was not a dull moment throughout the whole novel.
If you are interested in reading a fantasy novel reminiscent of King Midas, you won’t be let down with this book. And of course, if you love strong friendship and romance, you won’t put down this novel!
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.
All the Crooked Saints
by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: October 10, 2017
ALL THE CROOKED SAINTS by Maggie Stiefvater is a heartwarming story about overcoming your mistakes and accepting who you are. The story centers around the Soria family, a family with the unusual power to perform miracles. Pilgrims come from all over the United States to see the Saint of Bicho Raro, Daniel Soria. Daniel performs a miracle that exposes the darkness within a pilgrim and then the pilgrim performs the second miracle, expelling the darkness forever. The pilgrims must do the second miracle on their own; if a Soria helps a pilgrim in any way a very powerful, almost unbeatable darkness will fall on the Soria and anyone who tries to help will also experience the same darkness. The conflict arises when Daniel falls in love with a pilgrim and tries to help her, bringing the darkness on him. He flees into the desert to isolate himself and keep other Sorias from meeting the same fate. His two cousins, Joaquin and Beatriz, are compelled to help him and with the help of some pilgrims devise a plan to save Daniel.
This book has a great cast of characters. Each Soria family member and pilgrim is given a history and attitude. Some of the characters include: a fourteen foot radio host named Tony, a school teacher named Jennie who can only repeat back what is spoken to her, a pilgrim who is constantly rained on and wears a wedding dress with live butterflies stuck to it, a priest with the body of a man and the head of a wolf, and two twins made inseparable by the snake that twines them together. Each character has to overcome their own darkness in order to help Daniel overcome his. The story is also very inventive and creative; Stiefvater invents a convincing reality in which characters interact and live in the presence of miracles. I also really enjoyed the satisfying and exciting conclusion to the book. I would love to read other books by this author and recommend this book to readers of any age who like a character-driven, intricate, and creative story.
