After a hard couple months of medical and rabbitty hole hardship, I’m back! To start off, I give you NPR’s list of the Best 100 Teen Novels. I think some are missing and some are missplaced. Any thoughts? Sound off!
Enjoy some of the highlights and lowlights below and click on the link above to read through the entire list. As always, paint the roses in the comment section!
1. Harry Potter
2. Hunger Games- maybe a bit high there?? I mean–I love the series, but it is not the second best ever. Everyone needs to CALM DOWN.
21. Mortal Instruments Series- Seriously? …………………………………………………………….Seriously? I will leave my ranting out of this. But SERIOUSLY? It beats out Tuck Everlasting?? The Giver? Bridge to Terabithea and A Wrinkle in Time (which were missing)? Ugh.
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fertility, Polygamy
ISBN: 1442409053
Publisher Description:
By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.
When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape–before her time runs out?
Cover and Title Critique: I like this cover. It was what first attracted me to the books. The broken down doll look of the girl fits so well with Rhine and her character. I can’t pretend to not find it beautiful and haunting. Well done Simon and Schuster. I know I complain about the pretty girls on the covers but there is something haunting about this cover. I like it–bordering on love it.
Alice says: OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
Ok…I have a love and hate relationship with this book. I read through it really quickly because it reads like a fun read–think Davinci Code. That makes for light, fun reading, but this is not light fun reading. I hate getting all dark and GOLLUM up in here but Wither has to receive my lowest score because it glorifies some of the most horrible things in my world–child rape and child marriage. There is a time and place for these things in dystopia, but it takes a strong author to repeatedly condemn them. Oh wait, no it doesn’t. Even a five-year-old knows to condemn these things. This can not go unnoticed and it can not go tween love story glorified. DeStefano’s world is creepy and sad and wonderfully dystopian but she begins her world by marrying off Rhine and her sister brides, a 13-year-old and 18-year-old, to Linden and not drawing some clear lines. These are forced marriages. This is clearly wrong–it will NEVER BE OK. Rhine and Cecily’s are statutory rapes if and when consummated. Jenna’s is rape. All of it is abuse of women, their bodies, their free will, and their unimaginable positions in a horrible world. Even with the rape and forced marriages–ok, its dystopia–fine lines, or even blurry lines, are not drawn about how it is wrong. There are flowers and Lisa Frank stickers all over the place about how it MIGHT not be the worst think in the world. Is this a joke? Am I on hidden camera YA Book Edition? The author proceeds with her story telling in a way that I can not pretend was not romanticized. Linden and his shiny black hair and sad eyes now lives in a world where any 14-year-old reading might confuse these him and these convoluted relationships as normal or romantic (a million times worse than when it was deemed ok to have Edward sneaking into Bella’s room and watching her sleeping without her permission). Money, doe eyes, and looks are made to soften the blows of horror–they are used to confuse Rhine, the reader, and obviously the author.
In reagrds to the plot, there is intrigue and mystery in regards to why the virus kills all the new generation at 20 and 25 and outrage at how the older generation is using young “brides” to populate the wealthier survivors with “younguns” to keep the human race going. The grotesque imagery of older men buying young brides for themselves and for their many sons is worthy of discussion and did give me chills–I just could not get over the building of a love story/triangle in this horribleness and trying to hand this down to the reader. Without handing out spoilers–it just was not PLAUSIBLE. It was impossible. It was really pathetic. I don’t think I’ve ever been that annoyed with anyone romanticizing something so harmful to women (or men–Rhine was taken from her twin brother and sees the virus harming everyone–particularly the young (the poor young?)). It was like looking at Atwood through a lens she would be horrified by.
I don’t have an opinion on Rhine because she seems unreal. Everything is spelled out for me by the author. I am told she loves her brother tremendously, that she is trying to escape, that she is daring and smart–but she does not act like it. She is very one-dimensional and very dense. Her inability to see Linden as an agent to her horror makes her one-dimensional.
So, what did I like (to make me say I had a love hate relationships?) I think the groundwork for a world that I could have like is laid. I think the issues are all in Rhine and the decisions she makes (or should I say what is decided for her by the writing). I have never said that before which feels weird. Maybe the second book will redeem this one–I don’t know. I don’t see how but I am not one to leave a story on the first book–especially one that makes me this furious. Ugh. I will have to read the second one to see what is going on. Like I said, there is a great foundation for a dystopian world, but Rhine acts like a love-sick confused girl who does not seem to understand the world around her, the horrors around her–what is being done to her sister-wives and herself. Does the author? I hate picking on an author–I never have– but I have serious beef. I hope the sequel redeems itself and doesn’t turn into a taboo celebrating trashy novel again but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
Rabbit says: Ages 14 and up.
I could not find an age recommendation for this book. I leave it at at least 14 and up. There is child rape and continuous rape and romanticization of rape and child marriage (child brides) in this book. Dystopia does not make it any better. There is the constant discussion of older men with younger women. Just because Linden is younger does not make it any better. I can’t wrap my head around it. Even the publisher description says that Rhine can’t bring herself to hate Linden, a boy who rapes a very young girls. I am sorry but I draw the line in dystopia there. I would hope 14 is old enough to understand how horrible the themes being discussed and romanticized by the author are in this book but I also hope that parents are aware that these themes are becoming prevalent in books, though other authors and reviewers have condemned this book as well. The idea of girls as wombs is condemned more heavily than the rape so at least that is dealt with well.
Caterpillar says: Manor of Horrors
Ok…so this was just a weird book, but it did bring up so many different topics. SPOILER ALERT!
1. This reminded me so much of the child brides that have been taken out of fundamentalist compounds lately (which is why the making it romantic bugged the F*&#$ out of me). This felt like a carnivalesque fun-house discussion on compound polygamy. Did anyone else get this feeling?
2. Another fertility genre book–any thoughts on why this is emerging?
3. Is Linden a villain? Does he willingly participate in murder? In the experiments?
4. How does Cecily read to you? Does she read like a child? Does she read like an adult? Does she have agency? Is she a villain? A victim?
5. Does there seem to be a discussion of rich vs. the poor here? Is DeStephano commenting on how only the rich will rise above?
Am I the only one who found this book so disturbing? Paint the Roses!!
The cover and title for Ally Condie’s newest book in the Matched trilogy was released this week.
Reached, Ally Condie
For her interview at EW.com and more details on the newest book, head over to EW’s book blog, Shelf Life.
What do you think of the cover? Excited about the final book? Any theories or thoughts on the conclusion?
Did you hear that Matched has already been optioned and picked up as a film? Exciting…..
If you have not read this series:
-Dystopian
-Similar to Lois Lowry’s The Giver
-Set in a Totalitarian Future
-Government decides who your perfect MATCH is (in regards to the interest of the community) and what is good for you (job, life, wash your hair….they pretty much decided how you breathe).
Great read in the ever-growing genre of dystopia. They are a bit slowish–but not without some real merit (the questions the books asks are awesome).
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Teen, Romance, Fertility (we will talk about this as an emerging genre in an upcoming theme post…we have to at some point….I can’t ignore it)
ISBN: 9780062048509
Publisher Description:
Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.
New Feature!!! Book Trailers (How WEIRD ARE THESE!!! CHEESE FEST!)
Cover Critique: (also a new feature) I love this cover. I tend to buy books based on covers sometimes (EKK…i know). This would have sold me on the book. Based on the novel–it is such a good fit! It is so biblical. EVE, the red hair, a world destroyed, the bridge leading to the unknown–I love it. The colors are beautiful and the font they chose for the title is a great choice. All in all–I love the cover. It would have caught Alice’s eye.
Alice says: Like it!
If Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan (also…how awesome is this version of Peter Pan!!!) had a dystopian baby– Eve would be it. Carey’s writing moves along swiftly and efficiently, but it is also quite beautiful. I felt like I was not allowed to get off Eve’s dystopian adventure, but I did not mind. I wanted to keep going.
Dystopia can be hard to set up. You have to destroy a world to set one up—so sometimes the set up can take an entire book, or at least half of one. Carey had Eve moving by chapter two. THANK YOU CAREY!!! Even though you are handed so ch information to process, I never felt like I was being lectured on what had happen in New America (get it…New America after the old America has fallen–clever).
Eve is presented with a world so horrifying she has to slowly process it–and she does so in a way that I found realistic. I hate heroines that go from zero to badass. Who does that? I can think of maybe 3 women in my life who if doomsday came would function as super heroes. If my world came to an abrupt and terrifying stop–you would have to diaper me and hand me Jamba Juice–I would not turn into Sailor Moon and be all brave and capable of doing THINGS. This is why I like Eve– she transitions slowly into a person who handles the cards she is dealt–and they suck. This is one hand of SUCKY cards, very dark cards–but she handles them…and then is awesome with them in a way that is true to the character we meet on page ONE. Also–in regards to the Peter Pan references, someone of small and adorable stature asks Eve, “Are you my mother?” HEART STOP. Carey, are you trying to kill me. I seriously got misty. Well played.
Also–YAY FOR NO LOVE TRIANGLE. YA Gods–were you listening to me out there? Did you hear my plea for no more love triangles for a while? Apparently it is possible to write a story without a metaphorical werewolf and vampire–sigh of relief.
I would also like to comment on Carey’s ability to create characters that you just envision and like (form attachements to-cough cough–lost boys–cough cough). Her version of the “lost boys” in this story stole my heart. Caleb, her rescuer, is rough… and real…but not overly done. Nothing about him seems like a stock character. I had not met him in another YA novel before. It was like actually meeting a new character-which is saying something for love interests in YA novels. HELLO CALEB! Very nice to meet you. What a breath of fresh air. Arden, Eve’s”friend” is rough around the edges, but similar to Eve–true to the character you meet on page one–a victim of her upbringing but just as likeable once you get past her cactusy demenor- and really, who doesn’t like a cactus?
I will say this still has the helpless girl-victim trend that is going around, but within this genre it is steps above others….
Where is the next Katniss people? The next Hermione?
Rabbit says: Grades 9-12
This was an easy read. HarperTeen has Eve at a 13+ reading and maturity level and I would agree with them–kinda. I think the reading level may be lower, again, like others, I think a 6th grader could read this, but the content has me leaving this at least at a 13+ reading level. We will discuss why below.
Caterpiller says: Fertility say what?
SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Some topics discussed here will spoil thematic issues from the book. First off, I really liked this take on what I am going to term, at least for now (and to be later explored), fertility dystopia. Carey, unlike some of the other writers in this emerging genre, seems to find the idea of women as breeders, or sows, as she calls them, terrifying. Though I haven’t found an author who doesn’t try to get that message across, they mess it up with romanticising it with convoluted love stories written into the story– I am looking at you Lauren DeStephano. Having a 13-year-old be raped in Wither and fall in love with the rapist and her dystopian nightmare is never going to be ok–not without it being made inherently clear to your YA readers (who are soooo young!! I have talked to girls as young as 13 who now think it might not be bad to be a plural wife….NICE) that it was not ok. It has to be made clear that the issues discussed are rape and Stolkholm syndrome and child polygamy. Seriously–they have to be addressed a bit clearer than blurring the lines so much with the love triangle that no one knows what line you stand on in regards to right and wrong. I understand that a vast majority of the readership of YA lit is much older than the intended audience, but still–the intended audience is young, and bluring the morality of rape culture is never ok. That is not to say the book did not have merit–there was so much there–but it failed to crucify what was wrong with her Atwood-esque world. What would Atwood say? What would your feminist sisters say?
Not Anna Carey. Carey does not make this mistake. THANK YOU! Thank you from me, and thank you from parents everywhere who do not check what their kids reads (which I appreciate–my parents did not and I appreciated that–it benefits the voracious reader–but sometimes I want to scream at women writers who don’t realize they are glorifying rape culture for young girls). Carey–from page one–says NO to the world of using girls as breeders. Eve is so disturbed by the realities of her world she throws everything she knows away and just RUNS. Better to run than to become a uterus for some patriarchal society run by a KING (interesting choice by Carey to choose KING as the term for the ruler in her dystopian world).
What do you think about the emerging “fertility genre”?
What did you think about the existence of “male only” societies in this book? “female only” societies? What did you think of how they behaved (at least from what we could see in book one?
What did you think of the choice to have a KING as the head of New America? Interesting choice of words? Critique of patriarchy?
Is the trailer not very Mary Daly?? Seriously though….interesting.
Thoughts? Paint the Roses RED!
For a final note: There is a book signing tour! One is coming my way in Pasadena! For information click here:
