Sky Without Stars
by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
Set on the planet Laterre, SKY WITHOUT STARS explores the world as revolution begins to spark, in a very “Les Mis in space” way. But whether it was the breathtaking setting, or the deep phenomenal writing, I couldn’t get enough. Although the book does fall into some of the same YA cliches that could hurt a book like this, the interesting direction it takes left me surprised and hungry for more. Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Once and Future
by Cori McCarthy and Amy Rose Capetta
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
A refugee from a planet controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, all Ari Helix wants is to survive. But when she crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword, Excalibur, from an ancient tree, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Together with Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and her friends, they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back while doing something she never thought possible: defeating Mercer and bringing peace and equality to all humankind.
Packed full of LGBTQ+ characters, epic adventures, an ancient wizard, and immersive world-building, ONCE AND FUTURE is definitely a book unlike any other. Because of this, it is hard to truly capture its essence in just a short review. One of the things that makes this most challenging is the world the authors establish from the first page. This includes one of the best versions of the "evil corporation" trope that I have ever seen. To describe them as omnipresent and ruthless would be doing the Mercer corporation a wrong, as it wouldn’t quite capture the power behind their actions. To back this up, the authors create offense after offense for them to commit. Though going into details might spoil the story, I found myself completely and utterly agreeing with the characters that Mercer must go, truly understanding how a corporation can be evil. The authors create different aspects of their world like this throughout the book, writing some of the best world-building I have ever read.
This type of world-building is seen most prominently in the story of King Arthur, and how the authors find a way to expand it while sticking true to the original story. This is done through the knights--well, their futuristic counterparts--maintaining the original relationships/betrayals, and the dark aspects that the story holds. What I liked the most about this is how the authors maintain these original characters while introducing a twist of their own: each character is written, in some sense, to bypass typical gender/romance restrictions in order to give each of them their own LGBTQ+ twist. I was beyond excited when I heard that this book would be having a twist like this, and I was not let down in the slightest. The way that the authors played with gender stereotypes in a story such as King Arthur was something which I never thought I would see in YA. If you are at all interested in seeing representation in a YA space opera/retelling, I would highly recommend this book to you for this exact reason.
Besides wishing that the book was a bit longer, I don’t think that there was a single thing I did not like with this book. With characters such as Ari, who truly embody the character of Arthur with her ferocious leadership and yearning for peace, and Merlin, who is literally the most perfect wizard I think I have ever met in my life, there was little that the authors could have gotten wrong. Filled with intense emotion, kick-ass characters, lush world building, and a twist unlike any other, ONCE AND FUTURE is a book that any sci-fi or fantasy lover would like.
Killing November
by Adriana Mather
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
KILLING NOVEMBER is a thrilling murder mystery that revolves around our heroine, November, a happy-go-lucky small town girl who gets thrown into a world of murderers, assassins, and all-around tricksters when she wakes up at the elite Academy Absconditi boarding school. Completely out of her element in a school where violence and deception are key, November’s life gets thrown even more off balance when she discovers a murdered student on campus. With the help of her uptight roommate and said roommate’s smooth-mouthed brother, November sets off to figure out who the killer really is, while simultaneously uncovering her suspiciously secretive heritage. Unfortunately, November’s suspect list is unbearably high, every student seemingly having a bone to pick with our energetic heroine. With no contact to the outside world, including her beloved father, November hopes that she can solve this murder before she winds up next on the killer’s list.
Regarding the overall plot, KILLING NOVEMBER definitely has a lot going on. I mean, it’s not impossible to follow or anything, but it moves very fast, and my opinions of characters were constantly changing throughout the book. However, that’s what is so fun about it: the twists and turns keep the story fresh and alive up until the very end! I’m trying not to spoil anything here, so let’s just say that if you like murder mysteries, drama, assassins, or even just interesting characters, you should take a peek at KILLING NOVEMBER, stay for a couple pages, and then decide if it’s something you want to invest in! I really do recommend giving this one a read, I definitely enjoyed it.
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.
Brawler
by Neil Connelly
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
BRAWLER is about Eddie MacIntyre, an amazing wrestler who loses all his scholarships when he attacks a referee. He is such a great wrestler because of his rage that he keeps deep inside. But when it comes out, the consequences are devastating. He is sought out by an agent from a secret organization of brawlers who make money off illegal street brawls. Mac leaves with a warrant for his arrest and moves in with Khajee, who is to be his brawling trainer. Mac must correct his wrongdoings while dealing with a disturbing past. I liked this book a lot. The plot had many layers that were quite interesting. It kept me reading the book, that's for sure. The complex wrestling moves were described in a simple and understandable way. I specifically enjoyed the relationship between Mac and Khajee. There was a lot of effort put into their relationship and it worked. I enjoyed the fast paced action and the writing was excellent.
XL
by Scott Brown
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
In his moving new novel, Scott Brown tells the story of 4’11” Will Daughtry. With best friend and stepbrother Drew and longtime crush Monica at his side, Will is set to conquer the world in spite of his short stature. But on the day of his sixteenth birthday, nothing goes right for Will and he is left wondering if he is destined to be invisible for the rest of his life. Then, against all odds, Will starts to grow. And grow. And grow. Suddenly, he’s no longer invisible. But that comes with its own set of problems, problems that Will must overcome with the help of his best friends. XL is a heartwarming novel about what a pain it is to grow up and how to embrace change.
It felt somewhat ironic that I, a 6’3” sixteen year old, was reading this book. I’ve never had to deal with the problem of being short, and so my eyes were really opened by Will’s strife. Throughout XL, I was rapt, each chapter leaving me more engaged with the story and yearning to find out more. The book’s only downfall was an ending that left me wanting just a bit more. Despite this, XL was a fantastic book, filled with humor, intelligence, and irrefutable truths. Let’s just say that the next book I read will have some big shoes to fill.
Internment
by Samira Ahmed
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 19, 2019
Samira Ahmed, author of LOVE, HATE, AND OTHER FILTERS, follows up her bestselling novel with a hard-hitting, startling dystopian thriller. INTERNMENT is the story of a society that has begun to detain Muslim citizens and place them in an internment camp. As horrible as that sounds, the description of the book describes it as just “in the near future.” INTERNMENT follows the reaction of a young girl, Layla, to the horribly Islamophobic times in which she is stuck. In this internment camp, Layla teams up with a group of unlikely heroes in an attempt to expose the camp to the entire nation. Along the way, she learns a lot about faith, identity, and what it means to stand up for yourself in times of strife.
This was a deeply impactful novel. Ahmed does not hold back in her description of the atrocities committed by the internment camp, and because of this, I found myself rooting for the characters more than most books I read. I feel like INTERNMENT was such an emotional novel because even though it was dystopian, it built itself upon a realistic base. Layla’s situation is much like one that could be on the news today. Even more so, I was alerted to my own passivity through Layla’s representation of the American people standing idly in their own positions of privilege, only caring about an event for a news cycle or two. In the end, INTERNMENT was incredibly successful in baring some very deep truths all the while giving the reader a character to root for with whom they can identify.
Girls With Sharp Sticks
by Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 19, 2019
GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS is a beautifully relevant novel that tells the story of the young women of Innovations Academy. A boarding school for girls run by men, this school prepares these girls for their lives with husbands chosen for them by the academy. The girls are taught to never speak out, to look perfect at all times, and that the men in control of them are superior to any of their own ideas and aspirations. As the girls fight to stay close with one another, making the most out of their separation from families and the challenge of day to day confinement in perfection, they start to see that maybe Innovations might not have their best interests at heart, and the education they’d always dreamed of having might be a facade. Told from the perspective of a girl with high hopes for her future, GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS explores with her the challenges of their lives, first loves, and friendships. This book was absolutely amazing, and with these characters the author explored very real issues and controversies that are prevalent today in our world.
Night Music
by Jenn Marie Thorne
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication Date: March 19th, 2019
NIGHT MUSIC is the story of an unlikely romance set against the backdrop of race, family relations, and music during a summer in New York City. Ruby, the youngest in a family known globally in the classical music scene, has lost the love she once held for the piano and faces a newly uncertain future. The insecurity and jealousy Ruby feels when her father takes young prodigy Oscar under his wing, and into their house, fades into admiration and maybe even love. As Oscar becomes the poster child for a prestigious music school, he must deal with the historically white nature of the industry as unsettling truths come to light. Ruby and Oscar must fight these head on to ensure both her family’s reputation and his future.
This is a delightful rom-com that tackles real issues, fleshed out enough that it's not just a “trashy” romance novel. The prejudice Oscar faces and expectations others have for him are grounded in the unfortunate truth of modern society and aren’t glossed over to further the plot. Rather, race relations and classism make up a large part of the story and feel integral to the novel as a whole. Ruby feels inadequacy and failure, but she is able to push forward to a degree, a rare presentation of such a storyline being told in a realistic and relatable manner. All the characters have personal flaws that are fleshed out, which is not often seen in this genre.
Shout
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 12, 2019
SHOUT by Laurie Halse Anderson is, in part, a sequel to SPEAK, Anderson’s critically acclaimed 1999 novel. In SPEAK, Melinda struggles to find her voice and speak out about having been raped. Melinda was a semi-autobiographical version of Anderson herself. However, SHOUT diverges from this fictional character and world, revealing Anderson’s true and heartbreakingly real experience as a girl growing into adulthood (then later, tells of the resistance she faced after writing SPEAK). Written entirely in verse, Anderson begins innocent anecdotes that, with one phrase, devolve into nightmares. Her pin-prick attention to detail and expressive prose is indulgent and gripping at the same time. One of the most moving elements of this book is her portrayal of her parents, conclusively complicated, yet loving and hopeful. Anderson describes her parents with detail and care, remembering vivid, emotional, and colorful moments in which Anderson’s childish perception and mature hindsight both play a part in revealing truth. Anderson’s personal and often emotionally raw verse is effectively moving. Throughout SHOUT, the horrors of sexual abuse and rape are laid bare to the reader. Anderson pulls no punches as she approaches the topic with fury and passion. While beautifully written and incredibly moving (more than one tear was shed), SHOUT is a vessel through which Anderson calls boys and girls, parents and teachers, to awareness and to action.
Opposite of Always
by Justin A. Reynolds
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
The charming and honestly written OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS by Justin A. Reynolds follows the story of Jack King, a high school senior living the exciting final few months before his graduation and transition to college. At a party with his buddy Jillian, Jack meets a witty and charming freshman college student named Kate. The two instantly hit it off, and as their friendship continues, Jack starts to fall in love with her. Unfortunately for the two, Kate falls ill only six months later, and dies! But when she does, Jack suddenly finds himself reliving the same six months over and over again, beginning the day that he first met Kate, and starting over every time she dies. Luckily, Jack realizes that this is the perfect opportunity to change things: an infinite time loop with infinite chances to save Kate. Unfortunately, everything has a price, and Jack has to be careful not to permanently sever his friendships, hurt his family, or lose himself in the process.
If you’re really into time-loop stories but are also a huge sap for romance, please take a look at this book. Jack and Kate’s relationship is really genuine and sweet, and let me just say that the friendship that Jack has with his two friends Jillian and Franny is so healthy. They always talk their problems out (even if sometimes I didn’t really understand a few of their conflicts) and support each other through tough times. Everything is told through Jack’s perspective, and seeing his character development throughout the book is really interesting and for some reason gives off some Scott Pilgrim vs. the World vibes? That’s cool though, because if Jack isn’t relatable, I don’t know what he is!
So if you’re bored on a Saturday night and have the craving for a sensitive romantic comedy with meaningful messages, check out OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS! (Also, just a heads up for fans of John Green, Nicola Yoon, and Becky Albertalli, the back of the book mentions that OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS would be great for those who already enjoy works by those authors!)
Lovely War
by Julie Berry
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
LOVELY WAR by Julie Berry, author of THE PASSION OF DOLSSA, tells of the trials of true love during WWI, told through the eyes of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love. The novel begins when God of Fire, Hephaestus, catches his wife, Aphrodite, engaging in a passionate affair with the God of War, Ares. Asked to defend themselves, Aphrodite begins to tell a story of two true loves set during wartime. From there, the epic unfolds, introducing Hazel, a timid pianist from London; James, a British soldier; Colette, a war torn Belgian survivor; and Aubrey, an African-American jazz pianist for the war effort. As love brings them together and war tears them apart, Aphrodite calls in witnesses--Apollo (God of Music) and Hades (God of Death)--to illustrate each character’s painful and joyful journey.
What most struck me about this novel is Berry’s examination of the relationships between death, love, war, and music. Aphrodite begins the story to prove that War and Love are inextricably linked. This relationship, and Berry’s method of discussion, is creative and intriguing. As the Gods and Goddesses interfere in the lives of our mortal protagonists, we see the relationship’s many nuances and come to understand it as complex. The characters are complicated as well. As a result of war or prejudice, each one faces pain and struggles to overcome it throughout the novel. Despite its relatively short reading time, LOVELY WAR seems like a saga, extraordinarily detailed and expansive. The narrative gives even minor characters life and color. This worldbuilding through character development makes the interactions in the novel dynamic and meanful. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique and captivating epic and recommend it to all who enjoy historical fiction, romance, action, or Greek mythology.
The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project
by Lenore Appelhans
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Riley is a Manic Pixie Dream Boy, and that’s all he was ever supposed to be. He lives in TropeTown, where everyone is a cliche character to be used in books. After breaking the rules and going off-script, Riley is sent to mandatory group therapy with other Manic Pixies. He meets and falls for Zelda, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl also in the group. As Riley gets to know Zelda and the other Manic Pixies in therapy, they find out their trope is on the brink of being terminated and must find a way to save it. There are plenty of Manic Pixie hijinks along the way, in a book that shows the joy in being yourself.
THE MANIC PIXIE DREAM BOY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT by Lenore Appelhans is fun, quirky, and everything you expect from a book about Manic Pixie Dream Girls/Boy. Yet it is also deep and introspective. The book explores and deconstructs the Manic Pixie trope, briefly covering some other tropes as well. As a YA book that parodies YA tropes, THE MANIC PIXIE DREAM BOY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT is naturally quite self aware; Riley breaks the fourth wall multiple times. This wonderful mix of qualities make this a pretty unique and interesting book. I really enjoyed reading it, and if you like subversions of typical YA stories, you will too.
The Fever King
by Victoria Lee
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: March 1, 2019
Waking up alone in a hospital bed in Carolina, a country in what was once the United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro is now a technopath thanks to the deadly viral magic that killed his family. This attracts the Minister of Defense, who invites Noam to serve his country by training to become an elite magical soldier. But as the son of undocumented immigrants in a country whose Prime Minister promotes nothing but oppression of immigrants, the last thing Noam wants to do is help the government. So when Noam accepts the minister’s offer to teach him the science behind his magic, he secretly plans to use it against the government. But when he meets the minister’s ward, Noam becomes less certain that what he’s doing is right. Stuck between his longing for change and wish for love, Noam must decide if trust is a thing he can give out liberally, or if the more he lends his heart out, the faster his world might come crashing down around him.
Written with so much emotion and power, THE FEVER KING is packed with amazing prose and beautiful storytelling. One aspect that captivated me from the start was the book’s ‘dark characters.’ Nowadays, it is common for publishers to claim that certain books contain ‘dark’ characters/themes. Often when books are marketed as ‘dark,’ they don’t quite deliver, leaving readers disappointed. This is not the case with THE FEVER KING. From page one, it is clear that the author is well-practiced in writing emotion, as a prominent sense of sorrow can be felt as Noam navigates the book’s mysteries. And even when something ‘light’ occurs, the sense that something can still go wrong is prevalent. One of the ways that the author achieves this is through the articles included at the ends of some chapters. The true definition of dark and clinical, these articles chronicle the trauma of one of the characters while helping to promote the overall feel of the book, establishing its dark history. Horrid descriptions of terrifying experiments and twisted recorded conversations are featured through these articles, making the reader wonder just how destructive and horrifying this world is.
The articles would mean nothing without the setting. In a post-war Carolina, the world is in shambles. While there are some ‘good’ parts to some of the cities, most of the people live in disease-ridden ruin and struggle to survive because of the poor treatment they receive. The majority of these people are citizens of the country lining Carolina’s border—Atlantia. Fleeing their home to pursue a better life in Carolina, they’re given few if any rights, treated horribly, and left to die from the viral magic. Being Atlantian is a big part of Noam’s identity, as he’s been fighting for Atlantian rights for as long as he’s been alive. I found it interesting how Lee wove immigration into her book in a way such as this. Readers will appreciate how she didn’t just mention it once and let it be, but fully ingrained it throughout the book, showcasing the horrid and disgusting lengths to which some leaders might go to prove a point or please the wealthy.
This was seen in the character of Noam and how he dealt with various events. As I mentioned before, Noam was raised in fear of the Carolinian government because of what they do to his people. But he is also proactive in his fight against them, doing all he possibly can to help. And though now living in the government’s building, his pain and motivation doesn’t lessen. Noam is a character who would appeal to many in this sense because of the sheer motivation and anger that pushes him to act. I loved how he embodied all those who are marginalized and pushed down. Lee continues in this spirit with her side characters as she gives them each their own characteristics and personalities. With them, Lee took some themes from the main cast and carried them over to the rest of the characters. I loved how she didn’t just write them for the sake of writing them, but wrote them to be a part of the story.
Another, much needed, aspect of this book was the Jewish and LGBTQ representation it had. Though LGBTQ+ and Jewish characters/themes used to only be popular in contemporary novels, they are slowly starting to make their way into fantasy, which readers will enjoy thoroughly in THE FEVER KING.
One important world-building aspect to mention in THE FEVER KING was its magic system. Unlike anything else I’ve ever read, I was completely obsessed with how the viral magic was something people feared, not sought. With most books that I’ve read, having magic is something that is wanted and held on a high pedestal. But in THE FEVER KING, it was something to run from. I thought that this added yet another dimension to the darkness of the book, but also increased the urgency of which Noam must save his people. Never have I thought that a book’s magic system would serve as almost an antagonist, which was something I enjoyed greatly in this book.
If you are looking for a fresh twist in YA, THE FEVER KING will serve as that perfect speculative fiction sci-fi/fantasy book that you’ve been looking for. Recommended for ages 14+ because of mild language and adult themes.
Set on the planet Laterre, SKY WITHOUT STARS explores the world as revolution begins to spark, in a very “Les Mis in space” way. But whether it was the breathtaking setting, or the deep phenomenal writing, I couldn’t get enough. Although the book does fall into some of the same YA cliches that could hurt a book like this, the interesting direction it takes left me surprised and hungry for more. Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough.
