How to use this Page

Welcome to He Said, She Said, a feature for GuysLitWire (and Bildungsroman) in which a guy (Book Chic) and a gal (Little Willow) discuss books that will appeal to both genders. Today, we’re discussing Gayle Forman’s connected novels, If I Stay and Where She Went. Are you ready to face the music?

LW: If I Stay is the story of Mia, a teenager who slips into a coma after a tragic car accident that kills the rest of her family. She can see those who visit her in the hospital, and she also reflects on her past. How did you feel reading her thoughts?

BC: I really felt like I was reading about a real person. The way Forman sets up the story, moving between the present with Mia watching the people visiting her in the hospital and the past with Mia reminiscing about her life, was a really great way of getting across Mia’s personality and life story. It also shows why it’s such a tough decision for her to stay or go; it isn’t cut and dry. Going through Mia’s life was good too because Forman encapsulated so many different, various memories- happy, sad, funny, embarassing, romantic, etc.- that the reader really gets to know Mia through the book.

LW: I liked getting to know Mia through her memories. Even though I knew the premise of the book before reading the first page, the scene with the accident still hit me hard, and made me wish that it could have been prevented. To then follow the path of the person who would become the sole survivor or the final victim of that tragedy - I think I often held my breath while reading this book because I was so worried that Mia wouldn’t make it. After reading If I Stay, did you think there would/should be a sequel?

BC: I didn’t think there would be a sequel at all. I felt like it ended really well but this isn’t your usual sequel which I think made it work so well.

LW: How do you feel about the sequel principle in general?

BC: I think it’s become the norm in YA. It’s like everything I read is the first in a trilogy and there’s hardly any standalone books anymore. I love spending more time with characters as much as the next bookaholic, but sometimes I just want a book to, y’know, END, and not always be a cliffhanger. I do also think that sometimes there is a need for more than one book but other times, not so much and it can feel like the author is just trying to make a story longer even though it should have just been one book. So essentially, I don’t mind sequels, but I do also like to see standalone books published.

LW: Were you happy with the sequel, Where She Went? Did you like knowing what happened to Mia after the end of If I Stay?

BC: I was really happy with it and thought Forman did a really wonderful job. The switch of POV and taking place three years later was a good decision and it just made sense.

LW: I applaud Gayle Forman for giving Adam a voice of his own. Where She Went can really stand on its own. The narrators of these two books have different personalities, different tones, different priorities, and different interpretations of past events and memories.

BC: I was a bit wary before reading Where She Went because I wasn’t sure if it could be pulled off and if it would be as good as If I Stay was, but I shouldn’t doubt Forman. She’s such a good writer. I did like seeing what happened to Mia afterward and just spending time with her and Adam again even though it was a bit awkward at times, lol.

LW: Where She Went showed us characters we knew as teenagers now a little older, truly young adults. I feel as if there aren’t enough books with narrators of that age. Did you like Adam’s narration?

BC: I did! Forman did a great job writing from Adam’s POV, though at ti

Add a Comment

Welcome to He Said, She Said, a feature for GuysLitWire in which a guy (Book Chic) and a gal (Little Willow) discuss books that will appeal to both genders. Previously, we've discussed novels such as Soulless by Christopher Golden (zombie apocalypse now!) and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Today, we're talking about Mary E. Pearson's connected stories The Adoration of Jenna Fox and The Fox Inheritance, the first two novels in a projected trilogy. Follow us into the future as we discuss these fantastic tales:

Little Willow: What drew you to the first book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox? I know I was eager to read it because I was intrigued by the premise and I had enjoyed Pearson's earlier novels. Did you read the book prior to reading any reviews or spoilers, or did you already know a bit of what was going to happen?

Book Chic: It just sounded really interesting and the cover was beautiful, so both of those together make me really want an ARC! I was able to get one and read it the month of release so I don't think I had really read anything too spoilery when I was reading Jenna Fox. I just loved the story and it's still one of my favorite books.

LW: Do you like sci-fi stories such as this, stories grounded in plausible scientific and technological advances? I do.

BC: I like all kinds of sci-fi stories but it is a bit fun to read stories that are more grounded and can be plausible. It's also a bit harrowing too because we could possibly end up like this and it may not seem like a good future to be in.

LW: The second book, The Fox Inheritance, is narrated by Jenna's friend, Locke. Did you like the narrative switch?

BC: First off, I had no idea a sequel was being written until I was at BEA this past May and someone mentioned Mary's signing that hadn't been on the online signing schedule. I of course immediately put it into my schedule for that day.

LW: I'm glad that you got to go!

BC: I was really excited to get an advance copy of this book too. I thought the narrative switch was a good choice and it really suited the story. I don't think it would've been good to keep it with Jenna, so it was necessary if the second book was to happen.

LW: I did not expect another story about Jenna; I thought Adoration ended well, and I was content with that ending, that explanation. I was glad that Locke's story was so different from hers, stylistically and personality-wise, and it was interesting to see Jenna through someone else's eyes. Did you feel as if the narrators' actions or tones were influenced by their genders?

BC: I don't really think so. Maybe I'm just speaking in stereotypes, but neither Locke nor Jenna seemed like the typical boy or girl. Locke seems to rely a lot on female figures rather than standing up for himself or making big decisions. His tone is a bit passive throughout most of the book, though he does find his way and becomes a bit assertive in the end. It's been a while since I've read Jenna Fox, so I don't really have examples, but I don't feel like her gender influenced what she did or how she did it.

LW: Not only do the two books have different narrators, they also have different tones. Adoration is more introspective and revelatory, I think, while Inheritance has more action and physical risk-taking.

BC: I thought each tone worked well. The Adoration of Jenna Fox sets up the story and the reader is introduced to the ideas of bioethics, so it needed to be more introspective and revelatory. Jenna is trying to find out who she is. When the reader gets to The Fox Inheritance, they already know what's going on so more time can be spent on other issu

Add a Comment

Welcome to He Said, She Said, a feature for GuysLitWire in which a guy (Book Chic, a recent college graduate) and a gal (Little Willow, a bookseller) discuss books that will appeal to both genders.

Today, we'll be discussing Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. This collaborative novel is a perfect fit for He Said, She Said. Levithan and Cohn wrote alternating chapters, each from his or her main character's point of view, following the model they set up in previous bestselling novels Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and Naomi & Ely's No-Kiss List. (Little Willow adds: I found Dash & Lily to be just as amazing as Nick & Norah. This novel is absolutely delightful - a true holiday treat!)

When Dash discovers a red Moleskine notebook on the shelf of The Strand bookstore, he opens it and finds questions and challenges inside. Lily, the girl who left the notebook, wants to liven up her holiday break. The two teenagers start a lively game of dares, each writing in the notebook and leaving it in designated locations for the other person to discover. Along the way, they challenge themselves just as much as they challenge each other. Will they ever dare to meet in person? You have to read the book to find out!

Now we challenge you to read our roundtable. It's simply, really. Just keep going...

Little Willow: What did you think of Dash at first?

Book Chic: I actually really liked him and identified with him more than with Lily. He was sarcastic like me, though more quick-witted and eloquent. I didn’t agree with the description from others of his being “snarly” because to me, that made him sound like Billy Idol from the ‘80s with a sneer on his face all the time, thus making him look unattractive. This cannot be, so I refused to believe it. It made him look too mean.

Little Willow: I liked Dash from the get-go because he was intellectual, and he was intrigued and amused by the clues he found in the little red Moleskine notebook, just as the readers were. I really liked the fact that the story opened with the book scavenger hunt, wasting no time and introducing the main plot immediately. Then we met Lily in the next chapter, and I dug her right away as well. She was an individual, sassy, and just plain fun! What was your first impression of Lily?

Book Chic: I liked her too, but not as much as Dash. She wasn’t as adventurous and seemed rigid and a rule-abiding girl. Although I do identify with those traits (except the girl part, obviously), I just wasn’t as into her as much. She did have a good sense of humor though.

Little Willow: Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt that required epistolary correspondence and/or hiding or finding things in a bookstore?

Book Chic: Nope, I’m not good at finding things, so I stay away from scavenger hunts, epistolary or not, to avoid embarrassment.

Little Willow: Maybe you could be the person who hid the items instead of the person who found them. You could be the hunt coordinator! I dare you to start with with a notebook. I’ve never had a Moleskine, but when I was in 10th grade, I had a notebook that I shared with a friend and passed back and forth. Did you ever do that?

Book Chic: I had a sheltered childhood so I didn’t even do anything as little as passing notes with a friend, much less a whole notebook. I’m very lame and rule-abiding. Also, I figured I could wait and just talk to them out loud.

Little Willow: Rule-abiding people rule! No pun intended. Did you favor one narrator over the other? I liked how different they were in both personality and voice. Kudos to David Levithan and Rachel Cohn for giving them those distinct voices.

Book Chic: Like I said before, I did really enjoy Dash’s per

Add a Comment

Little Willow: Welcome to the roundtable discussion of Lips Touch by Laini Taylor, which was our featured book for October. Many thanks to all of the roundtable participants. Today, I'm joined by readergirlz divas Lorie Ann Grover and Melissa Walker as well as Enna Isilee from the blog Squeaky Books.

Lorie Ann Grover: Oh, it's a delight to host Laini and discuss Lips Touch! Almost as fun as her funky Laini's Ladies. Have you seen them? Mine hangs in my kitchen! But okay, let's get to her collection of stories!

Little Willow: Lips Touch is a collection of three stories: Goblin Fruit, Spicy Little Curses, and Hatchling. What was your favorite scene or character from Goblin Fruit?

Melissa Walker: I loved the description of Kizzy when she was introduced, and the reasons why the goblins wanted her and knew she was easy prey. I was instantly mesmerized.

Lorie Ann Grover: I loved her grandmother, trying to warn her! Listen, Kizzy!

Little Willow: I wanted to warn Kizzy as well. I thought this story was a great way to kick off this collection, and I liked the fact that each story took place in a different time and location. Goblin Fruit took place in current times. If this story had been set in Victorian times instead, how would it have been different? What might have stayed the same?

Melissa Walker: I thought the story was pretty timeless. I loved that it was set now, because it has an ancient feel to it but seemed perfectly modern, too. It was a nice combination.

Lorie Ann Grover: I think the modern setting made it so accessible. It acted as the bridge to this intriguing, mysterious fairy tale. Maybe it would have been a tad longer bridge if it had been set in the 1800s.

Little Willow: Are you impulsive? Do you often - or ever - give into temptation?

Enna Isilee: I used to be. Before I had a job I would fritter away every meager penny that I earned. Now that I have a steady income I'm actually more careful with my money (I have to be). I've never been impulsive with love. I'm very square. I don't think I've ever had a lustful thought. Always the good girl.

Little Willow: There's not an impulsive bone in my body. I'm extremely cautious, and I tend to overthink things. No matter what, whether it's a decision that has to be made in an instant or something I have more time to consider, I trust my gut. If my gut tells me not to do something, I don't do it. Period.

Melissa Walker: I was very, very good in high school, but I broke out of that mold in college and acted impulsively on too many occasions. I learned a lot from giving in to temptation, and I'm glad I learned it young.

Lorie Ann Grover: Are we talking chocolate here? Because I cave for chocolate. :~)

Little Willow: Lorie Ann, here's a healthy granola-and-chocolate bar for you. What's the difference between being tempted by something and wanting something? Where or how do they overlap?

Lorie Ann Grover: I think a desire can be honest, good, and right. While the word "temptation" lets you know that the desire is likely unhealthy, not to your ultimate benefit or another's.

Little Willow: Are any of you superstitious?

Lorie Ann Grover: Not a lick.

Enna Isilee: I'm EXTREMELY superstitious. Mostly when it comes to numbers. I hate the number 3, love the numbers 7 and 2. I always stop the microwave at 4 seconds, so that it never gets to 3. As for curses... I certainly believe in mental curses. If someone tells me I'm going to have a bad day, I probably will because I believe it. Then again... maybe that's how magic works. ;)

Little Willow: Maybe so, Enna!

Add a Comment

If you enjoyed this month's book pick, Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor, we'd love for you to participate in an online roundtable discussion.

It's really easy to do. Just leave a comment below with your email address. In the coming days, I will send you an invite through Google Docs. We'll post some basic discussion questions to get things started, and you may feel free add questions of your own and additional commentary about the book (and its gorgeous illustrations by Jim Di Bartolo!) Then check the document every couple of days throughout the month to respond to questions and comments from other readers. Since the roundtable will be available online at Google Docs 24/7, you may keep adding to the discussion any time you'd like until we wrap things up in late October. I'll post the complete roundtable at both the Bildungsroman and readergirlz blogs at the end of the month.

Check out previous roundtables to see how they work.

Click into the October issue of readergirlz to learn more about Laini Taylor and Lips Touch.

Add a Comment

Last month, I posted an open invitation to the Hopewell Hotel, asking if anyone was interested in participating in a roundtable discussion of September's picks, Suite Scarlett and Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson. Before I knew it, I had a number of volunteers, ready and willing to talk about hotel life, New York City, Law & Order, and unicycling actors - not necessarily in that order.

(Psst....If you want to be a part of the October roundtable, where we'll discuss Lips Touch by Laini Taylor, please leave a comment below with your email address!)

Little Willow: Let's jump right in. What was your favorite part of Suite Scarlett?

Melissa Walker: Being introduced to the Martin family was sheer delight. I've never met characters whom I wanted to know in real life so quickly. I think my favorite parts were the intros to each of them -- I was so excited to hang out with them for a while!

Lindsay F: When Spencer punched Eric. Big brother to the rescue!

Marjolein: I loved that there was a big piece for theater,(I think Suite Scarlett itself would be a perfect story to turned into a play!) the long gone glory of the Hopewell and the mysterious Mrs.Amberson with her even more eccentric demands.

Little Willow: What was your favorite scene in Scarlett Fever?

SamanthaRowan: When Max muscles Dakota out of being Scarlett's lab partner. It's a good piece of foreshadowing and it reaches all of us on a deep level. We all remember the pressure of finding a lab partner or being picked for the dodge ball team.

Melissa Walker: I loved it when Scarlett met Lola for lunch and they finally talked openly about things with Chip. It felt so real and sisterly, especially for these two girls who love each other but don't always communicate well. Fantastic moment.

Lindsay F: When Scarlett pushed Max off his stool. ...I think I just may like violence in MJ's books.

Mariah: When Spencer got pelted with doughnuts!

Little Willow: Do you think Suite Scarlett warranted a sequel? Why or why not?

Micol Ostow: Definitely! Scarlett and her world are so colorful that I think there must be infinite sequels and stories to tell!

Mariah: Yes, because the characters could never stop giving wonderful stories and making messes of things!

SamanthaRowan: Yes. There were certainly enough story lines to follow. There's probably a logical sequel to Scarlett Fever too.

Melissa Walker: Yes, and I would very much like to follow the Martin siblings into middle age. Please, Maureen?

Lindsay F: I think Suite Scarlett was a good stand alone novel. However I think Scarlett will always be doing something worth writing about. I feel like Scarlett Fever was more of a cliff hanger than S.S.

Marjolein: Defininetly warrented a sequel, and I am still curious what is going to happen now that I finished reading Scarlett Fever.

Little Willow: Which of Scarlett's siblings did you like the most? Why?

Olivia Wood (elfarmy17): Oh, Spencer, definitely. He's the older brother I've always wanted. He has his own life, but he's okay with sharing parts of it with Scarlett. As she says (somewhere in a paragraph regarding Spencer's past gi

Add a Comment

Last month, I posted an open invitation to the Hopewell Hotel, asking if anyone was interested in participating in a roundtable discussion of September's picks, Suite Scarlett and Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson. Before I knew it, I had a number of volunteers, ready and willing to talk about hotel life, New York City, Law & Order, and unicycling actors - not necessarily in that order.

Little Willow: Let's jump right in. What was your favorite part of Suite Scarlett?

Melissa Walker: Being introduced to the Martin family was sheer delight. I've never met characters whom I wanted to know in real life so quickly. I think my favorite parts were the intros to each of them -- I was so excited to hang out with them for a while!

Lindsay F: When Spencer punched Eric. Big brother to the rescue!

Marjolein: I loved that there was a big piece for theater,(I think Suite Scarlett itself would be a perfect story to turned into a play!) the long gone glory of the Hopewell and the mysterious Mrs.Amberson with her even more eccentric demands.

Little Willow: What was your favorite scene in Scarlett Fever?

SamanthaRowan: When Max muscles Dakota out of being Scarlett's lab partner. It's a good piece of foreshadowing and it reaches all of us on a deep level. We all remember the pressure of finding a lab partner or being picked for the dodge ball team.

Melissa Walker: I loved it when Scarlett met Lola for lunch and they finally talked openly about things with Chip. It felt so real and sisterly, especially for these two girls who love each other but don't always communicate well. Fantastic moment.

Lindsay F: When Scarlett pushed Max off his stool. ...I think I just may like violence in MJ's books.

Mariah: When Spencer got pelted with doughnuts!

Little Willow: Do you think Suite Scarlett warranted a sequel? Why or why not?

Micol Ostow: Definitely! Scarlett and her world are so colorful that I think there must be infinite sequels and stories to tell!

Mariah: Yes, because the characters could never stop giving wonderful stories and making messes of things!

SamanthaRowan: Yes. There were certainly enough story lines to follow. There's probably a logical sequel to Scarlett Fever too.

Melissa Walker: Yes, and I would very much like to follow the Martin siblings into middle age. Please, Maureen?

Lindsay F: I think Suite Scarlett was a good stand alone novel. However I think Scarlett will always be doing something worth writing about. I feel like Scarlett Fever was more of a cliff hanger than S.S.

Marjolein: Defininetly warrented a sequel, and I am still curious what is going to happen now that I finished reading Scarlett Fever.

Little Willow: Which of Scarlett's siblings did you like the most? Why?

Olivia Wood (elfarmy17): Oh, Spencer, definitely. He's the older brother I've always wanted. He has his own life, but he's okay with sharing parts of it with Scarlett. As she says (somewhere in a paragraph regarding Spencer's past girlfriends, I think), Spencer “always shared the stuff that mattered.” They're the epitome of what I think two siblings' relationship should be: separate people who do their own stuff, but still incredibly close.

Mariah: Spencer! He is one of the few male characters in a book, who is not the love interest, that I have fallen for! Without any egging on by the main character's feelings, I fell head over heels!

Little Willow: Spencer was my favorite Martin as well.

SamanthaRowan: Spencer. I can feel him with the most clarity. I still have a little trouble believing he's straight, though.

Melissa Walker: Oh, okay, I'm going with Spencer to

Add a Comment

If you're digging this month's books, Suite Scarlett and Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson, we'd love for you to participate in an online roundtable discussion.

It's really easy to do. Just leave a comment below with your email address. Next week, I will send you an invite through Google Docs, where you may respond to some basic discussion questions to get things started. Then add in questions of your own, and check the document every couple of days throughout the month to respond to questions and comments from other readers. Google Docs is available 24/7, so you may keep adding to the discussion any time an idea strikes you until we wrap things up in late September. I'll post the complete roundtable at both the Bildungsroman and readergirlz blogs at the close of the month.

Check out previous roundtables to see how they work.

Check out the September issue of readergirlz for more about the books and their author.

Add a Comment

Want to participate in next month's roundtable? We will be discussing Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala, our August book pick for readergirlz.

If you're interested, please leave a comment below with your email address so that I may send you an invite through Google Docs. This cool (and free) service lets you edit documents in real-time while collaborating with others. You will be able to tell us what you thought of the book by answering discussion questions, adding in questions of your own, and reading and responding to comments from other readers.

Check out previous roundtables to get a feel for how they work!

Add a Comment

Today's roundtable is devoted to the novel The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti, which we'll be discussing throughout April at readergirlz and the readergirlz blog. Joining me for the roundtable are three readergirlz divas, Lorie Ann Grover, Melissa Walker, and Liz Gallagher, and two of my fellow postergirlz, Jackie and Shelf Elf.

Lorie Ann Grover: We are so happy that Deb Caletti has time this April to hang with rgz. The Secret Life of Prince Charming is a book that embodies what our community is all about: girls searching for truth within a powerful network of their own choosing, whether that be family, friends, or books. Each of Deb's characters will be a new rgz member whispering encouragements and offering guidance. Just listen as the divas and postergirlz chatter about this book...

Little Willow: Any thoughts on father-daughter relationships, be they personal or general?

Shelf Elf: Flaws and all, your dad's your dad.

Lorie Ann: Totally complicated and hangs with you your entire life! Like Quinn says on page 319 of the hardcover: "I still wanted him in my life, needed him, in the primal way you need food when you're hungry, or a hand in the darkness when you're scared. I felt a constant, low-flying desperation, the kind you feel when you are trying, trying, trying to get something you will never, ever get."

Melissa: I love that quote, Lorie Ann! It just made my heart pang again. Your dad teaches you how men value you, in a way. Luckily, my dad treated me like a smart, funny, pretty girl all my life, and so I've always demanded that from boyfriends too. Quinn has to find that validation elsewhere in the book -- luckily, she has some kick-ass female role models around.

Lorie Ann: Spot on, Melissa: "Your dad teaches you how men value you, in a way."

Little Willow: The main character of Secret Life is named Quinn. Do you think it suits her?

Lorie Ann: I loved that it's unique. I thought it was a great fit.

Little Willow: Me too, since I think it's gender neutral, and this book has a lot to say about gender roles and how you act with your parent that's your same gender, and how you act with the parent of the opposite gender. Do you think that Quinn is a boyish name or gender neutral?

Jackie: [The name] reminds me of the sister from Daria.

Shelf Elf: I immediately think Quinn Fabray - I'm a crazy Glee fan - so the name Quinn doesn't make me think boy. It makes me think more snooty, popular girl, which isn't Quinn in Deb's book at all.

Jackie: I so love Glee.

Lorie Ann: ME, TOO!

Liz Gallagher: I'm a third on loving Glee. But Quinn for me is the name of a bunch of kids who went to the school where I used to work. One girl Quinn and one boy Quinn stick out in my mind.

Little Willow: We ought to cast Dianna Agron (the actress who plays Quinn on Glee) in a film based on a Deb Caletti novel! Talking about this now, the name of Quinn makes me think of Jerry O'Connell's role on the TV show Sliders, but I never thought of that character while reading this book.

Melissa Walker: My main character in LOVESTRUCK SUMMER goes by Quinn, which is her middle name. I adore the name -- glad it's floating in the air these days!

Lorie Ann: I heart LOVESTRUCK SUMMER!

Little Willow: Who was your favorite supporting character in Secret Life?

Jackie: I liked the half-sister, whose name I can't remember. I'm horrible with names.

Shelf Elf: Sprout! Charles [aka] Charlotte. I loved her.

Jackie: No, not Sprout. She was awesome, but the older one. Sprout was a full sister.

Shelf Elf: Whoops!

Add a Comment

Little Willow: Welcome to the Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen roundtable! We have some special folks joining us today. Please welcome back Alexia, one of our original postergirlz. Also say hello to Arielle and Suze. I have very lengthy, involved conversations about books with each of these ladies. Since both of them really enjoy the works of Tamora Pierce, I invited them to today's discussion.

Lorie Ann Grover: Welcome, Suze and Arielle! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. And welcome home, Alexia! Woot!

Little Willow: I love these roundtables, and I'm tickled pink to see so many people here. Thanks to all of you for joining us, and thanks to Google Docs for making it possible for readergirlz from around the world to take part in these book discussions.

Lorie Ann: Tamora Pierce is the Queen of Heroines for YA readers. It's a thrill she has the time to visit with us in December. Let's dive into her duology. Just have your crown and sword at the ready, rgz - Let's get started!

Suze: I've been reading Tamora Pierce's books since grade eight, I started with the Immortals quartet and then I covered the others in order. I read Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen shortly after each came out. I read them again in November after I heard readergirlz would be discussing them in December.

Alexia: I started reading them when I was in 6th grade. I walked into Brentano's (may you rest in peace) one day, and my favorite cashier lady recommended Tamora Pierce to me. I bought the first book in Song of the Lioness, read it that night and then forced my mother to go back the next day and buy the remaining books. All 15 or so of them. I've read all of the newer ones as they've been released, and I still reread them regularly whenever I have bad or stressful days. In fact, I have Trickster's Choice, Emperor's Mage (of the Immortal's Quartet) and Lioness Rampant (of the Song of the Lioness quartet) on my bookshelf in my dorm room. I'm not kidding.

Suze: See! Now that was smart. Like an idiot, I left all of my books in Canada and had to go get them from the library!

Alexia: I knew that I couldn't really function without at least a few of them, so when I was packing up some books to take with me, I threw in a few Pierce's, and I switch them out with other Pierce novels whenever I go home. They come in so much handy on bad days.

Dia: I've read several Tamora Pierce novels before the Trickster's Duet. I enjoyed the complexity of the Trickster's Duet.

Lorie Ann: I've read Tamora for years. Maybe my first ones were the Song of the Lioness? I just remember I had to pry them out of my daughters' hands for my turn.

Arielle: I started reading them in the 5th grade. I was going to Nerd Camp at Stanford and while buying my books for camp in the bookstore my mom came up and handed me Alanna the First Adventure thinking that I would like it. I did and since then have been reading them.

Jackie: I discovered Tamora Pierce when I first started working in libraries - I kept shelving them and was totally intimidated by the sheer number of books she had written. I knew that most of them were interconnected, but I couldn't easily figure out what order I was supposed to read them in, so I didn't read them for a long time. Finally, the children's librarian there told me to read Alanna the First Adventure and I was HOOKED. I read every book she had published at that point, about 18 books, I think, within three weeks. It was a total binge.

Shelf Elf: These two are my very first Tamora Pierce experiences. Working as a kids' bookseller, I sold a whole lot of Tamora's books, and I've always meant to start reading her novels. Now I finally did!

HipWriterMama: I can't believe I haven't read Tamora Pierce's books until now. Love her strong heroines!

Little Willow: If you are a regu

Add a Comment

Welcome to the readergirlz roundtable! Today, we're discussing A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing, Libba Bray's three exquisite Victorian novels featuring the risk-taking Gemma Doyle. Join us!

Lorie Ann Grover: Welcome to the table, ladies. Let's chat.

Dia Calhoun: Byron could have penned his immortal line, "all that's best of dark and bright" in praise of Libba Bray's The Sweet Far Thing. For in this fantasy novel, the dark and bright powers limning Gemma's passage from girl to woman enthrall the reader's heart from beginning to end.

Lorie Ann Grover: Dia said it so beautifully. Is that not perfect? So, let's go through the door and enter the realms! *shivers*

Little Willow: What did you think of the time and place? Do you enjoy stories set in Victorian England as much as I do?

Melissa Walker: I love this setting! The juxtaposition of proper Victorian England with a wild and supernatural world is perfect for the tempestuous teenage years. I also loved how many "proper" people were involved in both worlds, and the commentary on class and status as well.

HipWriterMama: I don't often read books set in Victorian England. Once I do, I wonder why I don't more often. Libba Bray did a wonderful job building this world--Melissa says it so well.

Holly Cupala: Yes! It reminds me a bit of the historical romances my grandmother used to read, though with the added intrigue of the realms. Jane Austen could never have imagined it so well!

Lorie Ann Grover: I love reading about Victorian England! The society is primed for a good female struggle for voice and independence.

Dia Calhoun: Ever since I read The Secret Garden I have enjoyed novels set in Victorian England. And are not the realms a kind of secret garden? Though with delicious dangers. But I think there is something always hidden and secret in such a strict world.

Little Willow: I love The Secret Garden! I can definitely see the Realms as a secret garden of sorts, Dia. I love stories in which the main character goes through a portal and finds herself/himself otherwhere. In fact, many of my favorite fantasy novels travel to magical lands: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende, Strangewood by Christopher Golden, and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. I also love the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane, which was selected by the postergirlz and divas to be listed in this month's recommended reads. I would love to travel to Wonderland or Fantastica (called Fantasia in the TNES films) as well as the Realms in Gemma's stories. What are your favorite other realms?

Holly Cupala: I loved The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende - one of my all-time favorite reads, Little Willow! I first read it at age nine on a camping trip with my cousins - not that I actually did any camping, only reading. I finished it in the middle of the night and cried because I didn't want it to end! I've probably read it a dozen times since. Note: the movie doesn't compare to the book, especially the one printed in red and green.

(Little Willow rejoices over Holly's response.)

Lorie Ann Grover: You know what came instantly to mind? Pern! I love Anne McCaffrey's Pern. Does that count?

Dia Calhoun: I would like to travel to Daria, I think it is called, in Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword. And Middle Earth, of course. But I'd like to have some kind of magical powers to help me deal with the darker elements always found in other realms. Aren't many of these other realms really stand-ins for the subconscious world?

Little Willow: I think so. I am also a sucker for books set in boarding schools. Are any of you? I never attended such a school, but that coupled with the time period, the location, AND the supernatural elements all intrigued me.

Holly Cupala: The idea of boarding school is so intriguing, though I did attend a small private school where everyone knew everything about every moment of your life and imagine that boarding school would be something like that (the panopticon, to bring in a theme from another boarding school book!). However, authors like Libba and John Green and E. Lockhart and Rachel Cohn all make them seem rife with possibilities. That sort of environment could be a crucible for all kinds of experiences.

Dia Calhoun: Yes, I too, have always loved the idea of boarding school, thought I imagine the reality might be quite different. When I got to Mills College--a small liberal arts women's college--living in the dorms where we all had private rooms and sit down candlelight dinners on Wednesdays was very much like a boarding school in some ways. And I did love that! I think any kind of environment where you bring a small group of people together is excellent for fictional possibilities. I want Felicity's tent!

Lorie Ann Grover: I don't want Felicity's tent, Dia! I was ALWAYS worried people could overhear through the cloth. Do you know how when you think you have privacy and you don't? I've never had a boarding school experience. But I could imagine living at Hogwarts! Or having Snape as my headmaster. Oh, my. Holly, I may need a photo here. :~)

Little Willow: (singing) Snape, Snape, Severus Snape! (normal voice) Would you like to have visions like Gemma?

Lorie Ann Grover: No visions for me! I have a plethora of information to deal with without them.

Melissa Walker: I would not want this power. It comes with such great responsibility that I'd feel more burdened than magical, I fear.

Holly Cupala: That would depend for me on the purpose and origins of the visions. Occasionally I dream that I am supposed to say something to someone, or do something, or I dream in symbols about situations or events. Some dreams I wouldn't want to come true. Wisdom and discernment would be important gifts to come alongside visions.

Little Willow: Consider the dark times that Gemma and other "visionary" fictional characters, such TV's Cordelia Chase and Johnny Smith from The Dead Zone, went through physically and emotionally. If this vision talent permitted only good visions, their stories would be so different from what they were.

Dia Calhoun: I think the power of visions would be a very uncomfortable power -- as it is for Gemma. If one could control them--designate when they come and when they end--that would be more bearable, but Gemma cannot do that. Think of Cassandra. Very unpleasant to know the future tragedy and be unable to change the future. Sometimes I have little visionary moments when I am working on a novel -- a different kind of vision -- but very rewarding.

Little Willow: Would you like to have any of the other girls' powers?

HipWriterMama: Every once in awhile, it would be nice to have some extra powers, especially if I could use them to help my family and friends. However, can you imagine the problems? Who do you tell? Do you keep this a secret? What kind of expectations would people have if they knew of your power?

Dia Calhoun: Imagine if the government found out you had powers. Instant, unwilling guinea pig. I would love to have the power to fall asleep at will!

Lorie Ann Grover: Well, Gorgon had some pretty kickin' powers. I can see myself as Gorgon.

Little Willow: Bring Pegasus to our next roundtable, please, Lorie Ann, so that we may take flight. I'll teach him how to read! Back to serious matters: What makes Gemma a readergirl?

Melissa Walker: Gemma reacts to her world, but she also thinks critically about what's happening to her, and that combo makes her a great readergirl.

Holly Cupala: Read, reflect, reach out - exactly, Melissa! (laughing)

Little Willow: That's our motto! I agree with both of you. She was found her strengths and was daring when need be.

Holly Cupala: She doesn't just sit by idly, but instead learns from her own and others' experiences, then takes action.

Lorie Ann Grover: And she admits her weaknesses. She looks in her dark corners and marches on. Perfect answer, Holly!

Dia Calhoun: And because she loves Jane Austen!

Little Willow: Who was your favorite main character?

Dia Calhoun: I really liked Ann, as the odd woman out, as the underdog with a burning ambition and with the desire to change her bleak future. She seemed more sympathetic to Gemma than Felicity, more understanding and compassionate.

Holly Cupala: How about Kartik? I found the parallel secret societies, his goals versus hers, and the conflict of duty and personal wishes to be fascinating. Plus in my mind, he kind of looks like my sweetheart. :)

Lorie Ann Grover: I knew you'd say that, Holly. :~)

Little Willow: Ditto!

Holly Cupala: I'm so transparent!? (Hi, Honey!!)

Lorie Ann Grover: Hm. Counting only the girls? And Kartik? I'd have to go with Kartik.

Melissa Walker: Ooh, yes, I did adore Kartik. And now I will picture him as Holly's husband.

Holly Cupala: Okay, now I'm really laughing, since we all just met you in person!

Little Willow: Who was your favorite supporting character?

Melissa Walker: I loved Felicity! She had such spirit and conviction and spunky love inside her. Even when she pulled away from Gemma, I felt her fierce affection for her friends.

Holly Cupala: I liked Felicity, too. What I really admired about Libba's writing is that she was able to make the characters so complex - not always likeable, not always good.

Lorie Ann Grover: I love Mrs. Nightwing! She doesn't have magical powers, but she has that staunch English character and one amazing bustle.

Melissa Walker: I do love a good bustle!

Little Willow: Speaking of fashion pieces we love, I love how Gemma is depicted on the covers of this series. I read A Great and Terrible Beauty as soon as it was released, then hand-sold it like crazy. I talked it up to every customer I thought might like it, and it became a top bestseller in my store that season! I spoke not only of the beautiful writing and settings, but also of the friendships. What bonded the girls together?

Dia Calhoun: Being thrown into unusual situations created a bonding among Ann, Felicity, and Gemma. Shared secrets, shared experiences, and the magic of course.

Lorie Ann Grover: Well said, Dia. I'd add that they are three girls searching for their place outside of their circumstances.

Little Willow: Which book in the trilogy is your favorite? Do you want more in the line?

Dia Calhoun: My favorite is The Sweet Far Thing. I think this book finds Libba Bray in full power.

Lorie Ann Grover: I would guess it's The Sweet Far Thing. Certainly it must contain all of Libba's skills at their height! It's been awhile since I read the first two. It is always delightful to meet new characters though in a first book. I shall have to go back and see which I prefer. Yet maybe I'll choose to keep the works as one in my mind. One grand epic. I could read more if Libba continued, but I also have a firm sense of completion. As long as Kartik keeps appearing in her dreams...

Holly Cupala: I think probably A Great and Terrible Beauty. The power, the passion...her courage will change the world...oh, wait, I think that's from something else. ;)

Little Willow: Have you read Libba's other works? I give her two thumbs up for her short story Primate the Prom, which appeared in the anthology 21 Proms, and her new novel Going Bovine is in my to-read pile.

Dia Calhoun: I have not yet had that privilege.

HipWriterMama: I'm looking forward to reading Going Bovine, especially after watching her video. It's pretty amusing.

Little Willow: Absolutely hilarious.

Holly Cupala: I remember her talking about Going Bovine when she came through Seattle with Shannon Hale, and I've wanted to read it ever since. Quite a departure, and Libba is hilarious! I'm glad she's having a chance to show that in her work.

Lorie Ann Grover: I'm on page 4 of Going Bovine. Laughed all the way through her acknowledgments alone! This is going to be a grand month as we host Libba. I can't wait to walk through the Realms with the author herself!

Dia Calhoun: Do you think Kartik will show at the chat!!!

Holly Cupala: Hmm, I could ask him. ;-)

Little Willow: That reminds me: Have you all watched the trailer for A Great and Terrible Beauty? It's fantastic! I wish I knew the names of the actors; I think they did a great job. The book has also been optioned for film. As far as I know, it's still in pre-production and no one has been cast just yet. I'd love to audition for the project. (Holly, should we pre-cast your husband as Kartik?)

Lorie Ann Grover: Who would I want to play? Gorgon or Nightwing. Yep! Okay, off we go!

Melissa Walker: I want to be Gemma, Gemma, Gemma! I think she shines. But I might be a little old. Realistically, I could have fun being Circe!

Little Willow: I hope the screenwriter(s) stick closely to the original story and dialogue.

Dia Calhoun: One final thought for authors: This book is a masterpiece of pacing. The way the suspense is drawn out, the clues slowly revealed, I learned so much from that.

Visit readergirlz to learn more about our interactive book group.

Read the October 2009 issue to learn more about The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray.

Check out other roundtable book discussions at Bildungsroman.

Add a Comment

This roundtable was cross-posted at GuysLitWire.

CS:  That's a great choice.  Speaking of choice, I love the role it plays in this novel.  Particularly where the magic is concerned--to use it for good or for bad.  If you had ever found a book as powerful as Will and Brian did, full of both fun and dark spells, do you think you'd choose to try them or do you think you'd walk away?  The way the book of spells was described terrified me and I think I'd be leery of the vicious spells.  I don't think I could use spells against someone.  But!  I would totally wanna try levitation.

</font>

Learn more about the book at the author's official website.

Read the first three chapters of The Boys Are Back in Town by Christopher Golden.

Psst . . . Christopher Golden's newest book is out today! Look for The Waking: Dreams of the Dead in YA Fiction - and look in the Rs, not the Gs! This thrilling series is being published under a pseudonym: Thomas Randall. But we didn't tell you that...

Add a Comment

Red Glass by Laura Resau, our May selection for readergirlz, takes readers on a journey with Sophie, a teenage girl scared of change but full of sisterly love for a little boy her family took in after a tragedy. Pablo is only five years old - and the only survivor of a group that crossed the Mexican border in search of a better life in the United States of America. A year later, when they discover Pablo has living relatives still in Mexico, Sophie, her great-aunt Dika, Dika's boyfriend and his son, Angel, accompany Pablo back to his hometown. It's a trip that will change all of their lives - and their families - forever.

Lorie Ann Grover: I was so happy to find Red Glass as I was reading works with Latina content and those authored by Latinas. The book's 3 starred reviews made me jump to find a copy. I love the content it is bringing to our group, from a girl finding her freedom from fear to life in a small Mexican city. However, the individual, vivid characters are what ring so powerfully to me.

Little Willow: Anyone want to share their background or nationality? Are there any immigration stories in your immediate family?

Lorie Ann: I know my German grandfather left Germany right before WWII. The other side of my family came from Switzerland.

Shelf Elf: On my mom's side, we've been in Canada for a bunch of generations, but originally from Britain. My dad came here on his own from Belfast in his twenties.

Holly Cupala: My side of the family has been in the U.S. for generations (originally from Wales), but my husband's parents immigrated from India in the 70's. Their story is fascinating to me.

Little Willow: Who were your favorite characters in Red Glass?

Lorie Ann: Dika and Nola. Weren't these ladies such great examples of loving your body shape and being comfortable in the world?

Little Willow: Indeed they were. I admired Nola's strength and determination. I liked Sophie as the narrator because she was seeing everything with open eyes and she had such an open heart. I felt for her whenever she spoke of her fears and worries.

Shelf Elf: I admired Dika a lot, the way she continued to love life and see reasons for joy even after having lived through war. I agree that Sophie had such a good heart. She'd be a great friend.

Holly: I think Dika, but I felt so close to Sophie, seeing the world through her eyes. Pablo reminded me of someone I know. It's hard to choose one.

Little Willow: What was your favorite scene?

Lorie Ann: I think the graveyard scene will linger in my mind most. There's such resolution and beauty. I find rather than whole scenes I carry striking images: light streaming through red glass, Dika's abundant folds, Nola as a rag pile, the white dress, underwater jewels, mirrored sunglasses. Also, what struck me, were the sensory details of man. There's an acceptance of dirt under nails, urine, mustiness, and sweat. Laura embraces what most consider unattractive as simply aspects of a rich life.

Shelf Elf: I agree, Lorie Ann. So much of this novel stayed with me long after I finished. For me, one of the most memorable scenes was the description of one of the "Midnight Parties" in Sophie's backyard when her family came together to help the immigrants who needed food and a safe place to rest. This scene revealed so much of this family's strength and integrity and love. I loved the fact that Sophie kept the broken eggshell to remind herself that it hadn't all just been a dream.

Little Willow: What did you think about Sophie's aunt Dika?

Lorie Ann: I absolutely love Dika. I need her in my life!

Shelf Elf: I think Dika is such a complex character, so full of lightness but she is also vulnerable. She seems wise. Someone I'd like to listen to.

Holly: Yes! She is the kind of influence I think everyone could benefit from - loving and wise.

Little Willow: Sophie and the book at large definitely benefited from Dika's presence, her history, and her boldness. Dika is a refugee from the Bosnian war. Has any war touched your family or yourself, personally?

Lorie Ann: My husband served in the army in our early marriage. I thank and support our soldiers and family who serve for our freedom.

Little Willow: My grandfather served in World War II as well. Sadly, he passed away a decade before I was born. I wish I had had the chance to know him, and apparently, I have some things in common with him. Just last year, I learned that a special day in my life (not the year, obviously, but the month and day) matches one of his service milestones, and that made me smile.

Shelf Elf: Both of my grandfathers were active in the Second World War. One was a pilot and the other built aircraft engines. My grandmother lost her first husband in that war. Thankfully, my family has not been directly affected by war since then.

Holly: My grandfathers were both too young for WWI and too old for WWII, but my dad served in Vietnam. My brother and sister's father (they are technically my half-siblings) was killed as a pilot when my mom was really young, just 22 with two little kids. I'm proud of my mom for her strength and faith and compassion through what must have been incredibly difficult circumstances (love you, Mom and Dad!).

Little Willow: Pablo is not related to Sophie by blood, but she quickly becomes his surrogate big sister. I have two close friends I call my brother and sister-in-law. Do you have any surrogate siblings?

Lorie Ann: The rgz team members are sisters!

Shelf Elf: Here, here!

Little Willow: (breaking into song) Sis-ters! Sis-ters!

Holly: Yes! I love that. My friends, definitely. Being a transplant, it's been important to me to grow a family around me.

Shelf Elf: Since I was a kid, I always wanted a "bosom friend," ever since I read Anne of Green Gables. After a lot of years of waiting and wondering, I found that friend. She is as close as a sister to me.

Little Willow: That's wonderful, Shelf Elf. Anne and Diana's friendship was so strong. In Red Glass, Sophie becomes extremely close to Pablo and starts to call him "Principito," or Little Prince. Do you have any nicknames for your siblings or other loved ones? Do they have any for you?

Lorie Ann: My brothers never gave me a nickname! Although my dad called me Dumplin' Spinner. No explanation. I didn't name my brothers either. I do call my daughters Bean and Bologna.

Shelf Elf: Same here, Lorie Ann - no nicknames from my sister, but my dad was a crazy nicknamer. I was "Lizard," for Elizabeth, my middle name.

Little Willow: I have a zillion nicknames - some from my family, some from my friends, some obvious, some silly.

Holly: I have accumulated nicknames, too! Many of them silly or personal or just plain weird.

Little Willow: Sophie feels out of place when they first arrive in Pablo's country, as he must have felt when he arrived in hers. Have you ever been to a friend's family reunion or family gathering? Were you uncomfortable, or did you immediately feel like one of the family?

Lorie Ann: Yes! [I felt] totally out of place at my husband's family reunion. Eek! The key is to ask people about their stories. You'll find you are soon woven into the fabric.

Shelf Elf: I'm pretty good at settling in with a group of strangers. I find that I'm sometimes less inhibited with people I barely know than I can be with family.

Holly: Being a somewhat shy person, I always feel a little out of place in any large gathing, whether it's my family or someone else's! It's gotten easier as I get older, but there's always an element of terror for me. I love Lorie Ann's advice!

Little Willow: I have never been outside of the country. Have you ever traveled far from home or immersed yourself in another culture?

Lorie Ann: Yes! I lived my first year of married life in South Korea, fifteen minutes south of the DMZ. Later I gave birth to our first daughter in Puerto Rico and lived there a year. They were very different experiences!

Shelf Elf: I'm mostly a homebody, but I have done a little traveling - Europe, US, parts of Canada - just nowhere very exotic. I guess one of the most unusual travel experiences I've had was when I was a little kid, we took a train way up north in Ontario to a town called Mooseonee, with a mostly Native Canadian (Cree) population. It was so remote. I remember being amazed by this completely different community, and how isolated it was. I was kind of stunned that my parents would choose the place for a vacation. But I sure remember it. The only way you could get there was by train or plane.

Holly: I would really love to live in another country someday. Husband and I have talked about it. India, Greece, Australia, England...

Little Willow: Let's talk about the origin of the title, the symbolism of the red glass . . .

Lorie Ann: I love the hope, forgiveness, light, future, and past that Laura blew into the red glass. I really related to Sophie feeling there was a piece of an object in her innermost self, whether twisted metal, light, or even hummingbirds. Angel's search for his mother's jewels corresponded perfectly with Sophie's search for her true spirit. And it's Sophie that uncovers them. "The red sheres were bursting with light. There was something magical about this, finding jewels in the darkness." The examples of beauty beside or within darkness were rich and full. "And yes, there were bones beneath our feet. Land mines and ashes of homes. But around us were crickets and fruit trees and flowers and sunshine and warmth." Brilliant!

Shelf Elf: Laura created such a memorable metaphor with the red glass. I thought that the glass suggested the idea that often the things in life that keep us going, that inspire us and help us remember true beauty are so fragile.

Little Willow: Sophia, like me, is easily worried. I wouldn't say that I fear things like she does, though. How do you work through your fears?

Lorie Ann: I could relate to Sophie and her fears. My mind seems to travel on similar paths, and I have to work to redirect fears. Ultimately it is my theology that puts them to rest.

Shelf Elf: Oh, yes. I'm one of those worrying types. If something can go wrong, chances are I will have imagined it. I've found that putting myself out there and trying to do the things I find scary really helps me to realize that almost all of the time, everything works out fine in the end. Surrounding yourself with calm folk is another good strategy.

Little Willow: Feel the fear and do it anyway! Courage comes when you face a fear, stare it down, and push through it.

Holly: I try to think about where the fear is coming from, and if there is truth in it and if what I know and believe is stronger than the fear. It seems like I revisit fears in life, but every time it's a little different, and I learn a little bit more about how to respond to it.

Lorie Ann: "Your heart in my heart" - Does this ring true for you? Absolutely [for me]. I feel I carry my family, present and deceased. I carry my friends. Even my pets. My heart has many pockets. :~)

Shelf Elf: I love that sentiment. To me, it's one of the best things we can aspire to as human beings, to care so deeply about other people and creatures that they become a part of who you are always.

Holly: Beautiful. I hope it resonates with other readers, too.

Little Willow: Does anyone else have a special relationship with the book The Little Prince?

Lorie Ann: It brings my grandfather to mind who first showed me his copy. It seemed magical to me!

Holly: The first time I read it was out loud to my husband. I look forward one day to reading it to our little one!

Little Willow: Enjoy each and every book you read together, Holly. Closing thoughts on Red Glass? Lorie Ann?

Lorie Ann: Kudos and thanks to Laura for being brave and sharing a culture not specifically her own, and then to doing so with such beauty, honor, and care!

To learn more about Red Glass, read the May 2009 issue of readergirlz. We hope that the website and this roundtable will encourage you to pick up the book and give it a read. We invite you to the readergirlz blog, where other readers and the author herself will be discussing the book's plot, themes, and characters all month long!

Add a Comment

The readergirlz divas were so pleased Ellen Hopkins could join us in honor of Operation Teen Book Drop 2009, and in the month of April, National Poetry Month! The verse novel Impulse is a weighty, heart-wrenching read. Join us as we chat about this raw work and our take-aways. 

To learn more about Impulse and author Ellen Hopkins, read the April 2009 issue of readergirlz. After you've read the book, we hope you'll join us at the readergirlz blog to discuss it further.

Add a Comment

Our February selection for readergirlz is No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia, the story of two young women, one of whom is forever scarred - physically and emotionally - by a coming-of-age ceremony. Two readergirlz divas and two members of the postergirlz lit council gathered together to talk about stories, ceremonies, secrets, and culture.

Lorie Ann Grover: No Laughter Here was brought to the divas' attention by rgz SALON member Sharon Levin. She issued a challenge: "This is the kind of book that should be featured at rgz!" We instantly got our hands on a copy and agreed. The protagonist is younger than we usually feature, but we believe the writing is exquisite, and the topic must be brought to light and discussed. Kudos to Rita for her contribution and publisher Amistad, HarperCollins for giving it voice!

Shelf Elf: I think this is such a good pick for readergirlz because it's a book that begs to be talked about. It touches so many themes that can connect to girls' lives, no matter where they come from: growing up, following your parents' wishes, being strong and supporting your friends, forming your own opinions and taking action. It certainly inspired me to find out more about FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), and to think about the place of rite of passage rituals in society.

Holly Cupala: I think this book reflects what readergirlz is all about: gutsy girls in life and lit. I hope girls will pick this one up and be inspired.

Little Willow: What would you do if your friend had a drastic personality change?

Shelf Elf: Worry and then try to get to the bottom of it.

Little Willow: I would do the same. I think I'm a pretty good sense of character and mood, and I always check in with people when I sense something's wrong with them.

Holly: I could relate to Akilah's approach - trying to engage her friend and bumbling through it a little bit, worrying and being frustrated, but in the end showing her true friendship. I would hope to just skip to the true friendship part, though!

Lorie Ann: Definitely confront them with gentleness and concern.

Little Willow: Definitely. I never pry - if they want to talk, they'll talk - I just let the person (or people) know that I'm there if they need an ear or a shoulder. If your friend clearly had a secret that was weighing heavily on his or her shoulders, would you try to find out what it was? Would you respect his or her privacy?

Lorie Ann: I'd make sure my friend knew I was available to share the load but not pry beyond that. I loved how Akilah sat on the bench quietly next to Victoria.

Holly: I agree, there's a fine line between supporting your friends and respecting their privacy. I think it would depend on the existing relationship. First I would worry a lot, like Shelf Elf! But then I would let the friend know I would be there to support her and am willing to listen. If it was someone I was very close to, I would dig deeper.

Shelf Elf: I would try to find out what was on her mind, because I'd feel like I was not supporting her if I didn't at least ask if she needed help or needed to talk. Talking to someone who cares about me has always made a difference whenever I've faced a problem in my life, so I'd want to be able to offer that to her, as an option. In the end, I would respect her privacy because I believe that there isn't just one way to deal with something and what might work for me (sharing my worries) wouldn't necessarily work for my friend.

Little Willow: How do you feel about what was done to Victoria in No Laughter Here? Would you do such a thing if it was your family, your culture, your tradition?

Lorie Ann: It breaks my heart. Even knowing it is a cultural act does not soften my reaction to it. I just can't accept it. No, I would not participate if I had any power.

Holly: To be honest, I didn't want to read the book at first because I knew all the questions it would raise: how can we deeply understand another culture? Is there a universal line that shouldn't be crossed? Who am I to judge? All of that went out the window as Victoria's story was revealed. And I felt sick to my stomach. Angry. Heartbroken. I wonder that a mother could make that choice - there is almost nothing I wouldn't do to protect my child.

Shelf Elf: I find it really hard to think about what happened to Victoria without focusing entirely on how it was traumatic for her. I know that this ceremony is a part of her culture, and I think it is important to remember that as an outsider to that tradition, it might be easier to take a firm stance against the practice of female circumcision, because I am not tied up in what my community and family might believe is important. Answering from my heart, I regard this ritual as brutal, and the idea of it completely horrifies me. It disturbs me that any girl would be forced to go through this at an age when she is not given any power to choose for herself. I just wanted to reach into the story and take hold of Victoria's hand.

Little Willow: Was it difficult or uncomfortable for you to read this book or to discuss it now?

Lorie Ann: The book was only uncomfortable in that it raised my anger about FGM. I didn't find I was embarrassed to speak of it, but I was emboldened to shout.

Shelf Elf: This book made me want to talk about FGM with other people, because I think it is so difficult to try to work out your opinion on such a complicated issue without getting other points of view. It was challenging, that's for sure, because it made me angry and then made me question whether cultural sensitivity is possible in all situations.

Holly: Exactly! While reading the book, I looked up as much as I could about FGM and am glad to have a chance to discuss it with other readers.

Little Willow: How can we heighten awareness of certain practices some may think outdated or strange while respecting cultures that feel such things necessary, or wonderful, or holy?

Lorie Ann: I think it's very difficult to draw the line of demarcation between ritual and suppression. Obviously, we must do so at certain points, cannibalism for an example. Finding the motive behind the act can be a help. As well as searching for damage to individuals who don't have a choice.

Shelf Elf: I think that it comes down to getting information out there, in a way that is as non-judgmental and respectful as possible. How can people decide what is right for them, for their families and communities, unless girls and women who have undergone FGM share their experiences and perspectives. I think it's their voices that need to be heard, because they can speak with a deep understanding of their own cultures.

Holly: Respect and sensitivity is key, especially in challenging ideology.When researching the subject, I was amazed to discover its prevalence in so many cultures and religions. What is it about women's bodies that inspires so much fear, that it would result in rituals of mutilation? Ms. Williams-Garcia challenges the practice with such courage and grace.

Little Willow: I always say I respect the rights of others to do or say whatever they like as long as they don't hurt themselves or anyone else. I freely admit that I worry about people or groups that do things that could kill themselves or others - especially kids - anything that puts lives in danger makes me really worried. With traditions and beliefs, where do you draw the line?

Lorie Ann: I really think the line has to be drawn at harm to self or others who don't have a voice.

Holly: I agree, absolutely.

Shelf Elf: This is such a complicated question. How do we measure what is most important: a girl's right to make choices about her sexual freedom versus a culture's long-held traditions? Also, what happens to girls who do not undergo this ritual? What place do they take in their society? In my view, it's an issue of fundamental rights for children - to be protected from harm, physical and emotional.

Little Willow: Do you feel as though you belong to a certain culture? Do you wish you knew more about your heritage, or other cultures?

Holly: I don't realize how much my culture shows until I contrast it with others - which, being part of a mixed-race/culture couple, is often! I always find it fascinating how people around the globe can share values but have entirely different ways of living them out in practice.

Lorie Ann: I don't have a strong sense of culture as a Caucasian U.S. citizen. Although, I do identify with southern culture a bit. It would be nice to grab hold of and experience my Swiss and German background. But it would feel contrived for me to do so in some ways.

Shelf Elf: It's practically a joke the way Canadians are always trying to define and describe Canadian culture. I can't say that I do feel like I belong to one particular culture. I have a strong, loving family, with traditions that we value, but I don't feel that they're tied much to a certain culture. Someday I'd like to know more about my family tree, my grandparents and great-grandparents. I've always been envious of people who have a stronger sense of their histories and of the cultures of their ancestors.

Little Willow: Akilah and Victoria value the meanings of their names, and so do I. I love my name, and I cherish the ownership of my name. You see, I go by a derivative of the first name I was given at birth. I was quite tiny when I selected my nickname and its spelling. What does your name mean? Do you consider that meaning often, or at all? Do you think your name suits you?

Lorie Ann: I guess not as I had to go look it up again: Laurel Grace Keeper of the Trees. I hope that it suits me somewhat. Books are made from trees. :~)

Little Willow: My online username is tree-based!

Holly: I'm a tree, too! My middle name means precious, beautiful, light. I almost changed my name when I moved because I think identities are so tied up in names, and I was ready to change mine. In the end, though, I am who I am. I worked a job for a little while where I had to have a unique first name. There was already a Holly, so I had to choose something else - a variation of my middle name. So there are still some people who call me Lane.

Shelf Elf: I'm named after a county in Ireland, since my dad was born there. I haven't visited County Kerry, but it sure is gorgeous and green in all the pictures I've seen and someday I'd love to go. I like that my name ties me to my father's past. The name Kerry means "the dark one," which has always cracked me up, like I'm Darth Vader's long lost cousin or something. I can't say there's much dark about me - in appearance or temperament.

Little Willow: Now I'm tempted to sing the Star Wars theme song. Did any of you undergo any coming-of-age ceremonies? Sweet Sixteen, bat mitzvah - anybody? I didn't, but I did have great birthday parties when I turned three and ten.

Holly: Not that I recall - though sixteen was a tumultuous age. I felt like I changed a lot that year.

Lorie Ann: No, I had no coming-of-age ceremonies. Although, I felt it happened when my father left our family.

Shelf Elf: Nope. I did get a beautiful gift on my sixteenth birthday, but there wasn't really ceremony involved.

Little Willow: I ate rice with cream of mushroom soup on my sixteenth birthday. That was my lunch today, too. Have any of you read Rita's other novels, Every Time a Rainbow Dies or Like Sisters on the Home Front?

Lorie Ann: No, I haven't, but I can't wait to read them!

Holly: I look forward to reading them.

Shelf Elf: I haven't - but now they're all on my list!

Little Willow: Closing thoughts?

Lorie Ann: Many thanks to Rita for presenting this important work in such a powerful way!

To learn more about this book, read the February 2009 issue of readergirlz.

To discuss this book in depth with other readers and the author herself, please visit the readergirlz forum.

Approximately 138 million women around the world have undergone FGM. Every year, another 2 million girls are at risk of the practice. Visit FORWARD (The Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development) to find out ways you can help.

Add a Comment

It's time for He Said, She Said, a newish feature for GuysLitWire in which Book Chic, a recent college graduate (male) and Little Willow, a bookseller (female), discuss books that will appeal to both genders.

Last month, we talked about Play Me by Laura Ruby, a YA book written by a woman with a teenage boy as the protagonist.

This month, we're talking about Poison Ink by Christopher Golden, a terrific horror novel. Here we have a story written by a man with a teenage girl as the protagonist. Her four best friends, all female, round out the cast. Christopher Golden always does such a good job of getting into the mindset of a teen girl.

Do you prefer third person narration or first person narration in general? Does that preference depend on whether or not the gender of the narrator matches that of the author?

Book Chic: I generally prefer first person because it’s easier for me to get hooked into a story, though I have read and enjoyed third person narration before. But that could have been another reason why I wasn’t as into the book as I normally would be. When I read Lisa McMann’s “Wake” and E. Lockhart’s “The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks” (both AMAZING books), I was a bit jarred because of the third person and I had been reading lots of first person books before starting those. I don’t think it matters who’s writing it and whether they match, it’s more of a question of what kind I’ve been reading more of lately, and YA books do tend to lean more towards the first person than third.

Little Willow: I also loved Disreputable History. (A future He Said, She Said column, perhaps?)  I like both first person and third person narratives, but I suppose I prefer first person. When I write stories with a female protagonist, I tend to use first person, but when I write with a male protagonist, I’m more likely to write in third person. In Poison Ink, Christopher Golden uses third person to relate Sammi’s story. He tends to use third person in his novels, no matter what the age or gender of the leading character. Whenever it calls for it, he always does a great job getting into the mindset of a teen girl. I don’t know exactly how he does it, but it’s really impressive. Have you read his mystery series called Body of Evidence? The main character there was also female – Jenna Blake, a college student, and one of my favorite characters created by Golden.

Who was your favorite character in the book?

BC: My favorite character would probably have to be Cute Adam, as I'm very much a sucker for male romantic leads, ha ha. I do hope that he and Sammi work things out eventually. I also really enjoyed Sammi since she was pretty much the main character of the novel. I really liked her for her perseverance, and for doing everything possible to help and save her friends.

LW: I liked Sammi as well. I feel as though I got to know her the best, since she was the main character, the filter through which readers saw the story unfold. However, since the narrative was in third-person, that allowed her some space as well.

 

Do you share personality traits with any of the five main characters?

BC: Like TQ, I'm quite shy, at least around new people, but once you get to know me, I am more outgoing. And while this isn't really a personality trait, I share the homosexuality aspect with Letty. I don't think I really shared any other traits with the five friends.

LW: The girls come together because they were floaters who didn't fit in any other groups at school. I really appreciated how different the girls were, and that they bonded despite those differences. When I was in high school, I knew people in various cliques and social circles. I didn't have a close-knit group of friends, though, like these girls do. As far as physical commonalities, let's see . . . Oh! I'm short, and so are Sammi and Caryn. Described as 5'3", they are three inches taller than I am.

Would you ever get a tattoo?

LW: No, never. I have no desire to ever get a tattoo. It's not about the pain or the health risks that may or may not be involved. Instead, it's that I value different forms of expression and art. I create things with my voice, my words, and my movement - speaking and singing, dancing and acting, writing and directing - rather than drawing anything on my skin. My ears are not pierced, and I never wear makeup unless I'm on stage or in front of a camera. I have never even dyed my hair, and don't plan on doing so unless a part calls for it; even then, if that ever happens, it will be temporary, and I will restore my hair to its natural color and state after completing the project. I understand that others have tattoos and piercings as expressions of art and of themselves, and that's fine— those methods simply aren't for me.

 

BC: I pretty much agree with you. I wouldn't get one for the reasons you described, but it is also about the pain for me. I'm very fragile, and do not like any sort of pain. I'm also worried about the long-term when it comes to tattoos and what happens when you get older. Not really a good thing. But I do quite enjoy looking at tattoos though; they are very beautiful, and usually there's a fascinating story behind it. Also, while it's not a requirement, it would be cool (and ok, kinda hot) if my future boyfriend had a tattoo on his arm or chest. But, for myself, tattoos are just not my thing.

Do you have any favorite scenes or quotes from the book?

BC: Other than the climax, not really, though I did also enjoy any scene between Sammi and Adam. Surprisingly, I don’t really pay much attention to specific lines or anything while reading, so I usually never think of favorite lines once I’m done.

LW: I LOVE the line, "Everything had been poisoned, and the poison was spreading." I used it at the book's website as well as my blog posts about the book because I thought it was such a great quote. It sums up the premise and it's just lovely. I picture the poison ink actually spreading, as if the jar had been tipped over.

Do you enjoy horror stories as a general rule?

BC: I’m not sure if I’ve read very many horror stories, or at least ones that were specifically horror. I do enjoy them, but I also tend to avoid them, as I am WAY easily scared and don’t need stories to help my imagination, lol.

LW:  I like horror stories that are thought-provoking and plot-driven. When they are based on something psychological, they are even better. I love the original run of The Twilight Zone. It was smart and derived its horror from real things rather than relying on blood and guts. I don’t like a lot of modern horror films, especially not slasher flicks that are gory for gore’s sake, and I’m not a fan of cheesy special effects. Reading a book is different than watching a television show or film, because the reader has control over his or her mental theatre and imagination.

If this book were made into a movie, who would you cast in the main roles?

BC: Eep! I hate this question, as I’m sure authors probably do too. I’m never good at picking out people who look like the characters— that’s the casting person’s job and they’re good at it. I am not. For Sammi though, the person that I had in my head while reading the book was my friend Sammi since they had the same name, though I don’t think they look anything alike. Other than that, I can’t really remember if I pictured any of the characters as actual people. For Adam, maybe Michael Cera? I don’t know.

LW: If and when the book gets optioned for film, I’ll share my casting ideas with the powers-that-be. Until then, I’ll simply say that I’d hope the actors cast matched the character descriptions that Golden provided. I had a really clear picture of each character in my head.

Without giving too much away, what did you think of the villain, the climax, and the conclusion?

BC: I really liked the villain (well, how he was portrayed, not what he did). It was kind of a surprise how he turned, though you could see it even from the beginning. I enjoyed the twist in the book when Sammi went to see what was in his back room. As I said in my review, the climax was AMAZING.  I loved it, and I seriously could not put the book down. The ending was really good too, though it wasn’t exactly what I expected. I won’t say more than that because I don’t want to ruin anything for the blog readers!

LW: You gave away the villain’s gender! *grin* I don’t want to spoil anything for potential readers either, so I’ll simply say that it was a killer ending.

For more about Poison Ink, visit the website: http://www.christophergolden.com/poisonink

For more about Christopher Golden, visit his site: http://www.christophergolden.com/

For more about GuysLitWire, visit the blog: http://guyslitwire.blogspot.com/

This concludes Part 1 of our Christopher Golden He Said, She Said. In Part 2, coming at the end of this month or beginning of next, we will discuss Golden's newest horror novel, Soulless.

In the meantime, you may learn more about Soulless at Bildungsroman or at the Soulless website.

Christopher Golden will be chatting live tonight at the readergirlz forum along with Holly Cupala (A Light That Never Goes Out), Annette Curtis Klause (Blood and Chocolate), and Mari Mancusi (Boys That Bite) as part of a week-long celebration of Night Bites. Join us at http://groups.myspace.com/readergirlz TONIGHT! The chat will begin at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST and last about an hour.

View all Bildungsroman posts tagged as He Said, She Said.

Add a Comment

Little Willow: Suze and I first met years ago, back when Buffy was slaying vampires on TV on a weekly basis. Our shared interests in books, theatre, and dance have led to many lively discussions, punctuated often with exclamations. We live in two different nations, so we don't get to see each other in person very often, but we keep in touch regularly via electronic mail. We've both had a busy month so far, but between work, rehearsals, and shows, we made time to talk about books by an author we both enjoy: Sarah Dessen. We've discussed her books before - we even made a very special trip together to see her stories on screen - but this is the first time I've gotten Suze to speak up on my blog. Say hi, Suze.

Suze: Hello! I'm very honored to be allowed to have my say on Little Willow's blog! Do bear with me as this is my first time . . .

Little Willow: Okay, let's go!

What was the first book by Sarah Dessen that you ever read? What did you think of it?

Little Willow: Dreamland. It was heavy - appropriately so, but heavy. I am glad that the next Sarah book I read, That Summer, was lighter and countered it. Which book did you read first?

Suze: Someone Like You. I can vaguely recall being told in no uncertain terms that I needed to read Sarah Dessen and most importantly to "start with Someone Like You!" It was a very touching story about friendship, and naturally, it sucked me right in. I literally could not put it down until I'd finished it.

What was the second Sarah Dessen book you read?

Little Willow: That Summer, Dessen's debut. I then read the rest of her novels in order of publication. At that point, That Lullaby was her newest book.

Suze: Also That Summer, incidentally. However, I didn't quite stick to the order of publication - pretty close though.

Which Dessen novel is your favorite? Why?

Little Willow: Poignant and realistic, The Truth About Forever is my favorite Sarah Dessen book. I loved how Macy and Wes challenged each other to be more truthful and honest with themselves.

Suze: I hate this question because it always leads to a very long and painful argument in my head. I'd have to say it's a tie between This Lullaby and the Truth About Forever. Of course, I also love Just Listen and Keeping the Moon . . . Then I have a soft spot for Someone Like You... See what I mean? I'll refrain from going into detail about why I love each and every one. For now, anyway.

Favorite character? Why?

Suze: Another difficult question to answer. My favorite female character would have to be Remy from This Lullaby because of her incredible sense of self. She hasn't had the easiest life and shes definitely made a ton of mistakes, but yet in the end she came out on top and she did it by herself, I find her strength and independence admirable. My favorite male character would be Wes from The Truth About Forever for a lot of the same reasons, plus the whole 'sa-woon' thing didn't hurt his case either! You?

Little Willow: I really liked Remy as well. She was independent and headstrong, like I am, and I understood why she was determined to rely on no one but herself. I really enjoyed the conversations that Macy and Wes had in The Truth About Forever. They founded their relationship on honesty, and as they learned more about each other, they also learned more about themselves.

Suze: I agree. I can't think of a better way to really get to know someone. Of course, they would have to tell the truth, and I've noticed that honesty seems to be harder to come by these days.

Little Willow: Honesty is the best policy. I am a huge fan of honesty.

Suze: Me too! After Owen's teachings in Just Listen, I have really made an effort to be more honest and tell less of the little white lies that most people tell on a daily basis. Of course, this can get me in a bit of hot water on occasion - so it's a bit of a work-in-progress!

What do you think of the way Dessen connects all of her books? Do you prefer recurring characters or subtle cameos?

Suze: I absolutely love the way her characters often return for Cameo's in future books. It's always nice to read a little about what happened afterwards, yet she never lets an appearance of a former character take away from the actual theme or story of the book. Although, sometimes, I find myself wishing that she would get carried away and go more into detail about what has happened to any given character - but I know it probably take away from the story she's trying to tell. Still, it's nice to read about them, kind of like seeing an old friend after a long time apart... What do you think, LW?

Little Willow: I like musing on the theory of six degrees of separation, so I enjoy the fact that Dessen has chosen to connect her stories without making them direct sequels or a series. I like the subtle cameos. I especially liked the appearance of Wes and Macy in Just Listen. Without being named or involved in the story, just simply described as two other people in the restaurant, longtime Dessen fans instantly knew who they were while new readers thought nothing of it. I wanted to make Rogerson go far, far away from Ruby in Lock and Key, which is understandable, since I wanted him to go far, far away from Caitlin in Dreamland. (Can you tell yet that I'm anti-drug?) On a happier note, Suze, what did you think about the band that reappeared in Just Listen?

Suze: I loved it! It was wonderful to know that Truth Squad was plaing at Bento once again, and I was even more pleased that 'music-buff' Owen approved of thier music. It was also equally nice to have Remy there and that little exchange with Dexter and his cell phone was adorable! I was so dissapointed when Annabelle ran out and never got the opportunity to hear the Potato Song.

Now for a shared experience: Our trip to the movie theatre to see How to Deal on opening night.

Suze: Ah, that was good times! I remember anxiously waiting for it to come out, and being slightly disappointed that I would be on vacation and unable to see it. Then you suggested going and made it very easy for me to hop a bus...

Little Willow: ...and after a long workday, we met at the bookstore and then went to the theatre. I was excited for the movie, which combined two of Dessen's books, That Summer and Someone Like You. Sadly, my excitement turned into disappointment. The movie took the main character from one book and gave her the family from the other book, downplayed Halley's extremely close friendship with Scarlett, and changed her relationship with Macon. It added in things that were supposed to be funny but which I didn't find particularly humorous, and it did not have any of my favorite moments from the books. What did you think, Suze?

Suze: My thoughts on the movie were very similar to yours. Scarlett's character was portrayed completely differently - she was more like a lovesick ditz than the character that I loved in the book. Then I was absolutely horrified when Halley abandoned her best friend while she was in labor - to go make up with Macon. I thought that your announcement at the end was very accurate. Do you remember what you said to everyone in the theatre?

Little Willow: I believe I said something like, "Read the books. The books are better." Is that right?

Suze: Yes, it was definitely something along those lines. I often wondered if anyone actually went out and read the books afterwards.

Little Willow: I hope so - and I hope that people reading this post will go read the books now, too!

Related Posts at Bildungsroman:  
Author Spotlight: Sarah Dessen
Interview: Sarah Dessen
Roundtable: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Playlist: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
They Tried to Ban This Book Today, or, There's a Sticker on the Cover of This Book: Reacting to the Challenge of Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Add a Comment

 
Have you ever taken an impulsive trip to or through a big city?

 
Little Willow: I can't say that I have. I don't have an impulsive bone in my body! This book let me travel through a night in New York, somewhere I've never been. (Someday, Broadway! You're gonna hear from me!)

Jackie: OOO. One of the BEST road trips I've had was with my best friend in high school and college. We just got in the car and drove east. No destination. No reservations. No expectations. Some camping gear and maps. I think I have more crazy memories from that one trip than many other trips combined. We started in Grand Rapids, MI and ended up in Boston, but didn't really spend any time there before we had to come back. We also hit Albany, Toronto, Niagra Falls, and Quebec (which was very disarming). Not in that order, though. All in one week. It was fantastic. I should plan LESS, now that I reminded about how impulsive that was.

 
What was your favorite part of the book?

Jackie: Well, I've thought a lot about Borscht since reading the novel. Haven't broken down and had it yet. I blame my childhood horror of beets.

Little Willow: I have never had borscht, though I like beets. I bought a can of shoestring beets today, in fact.

Jackie: I'm less afraid of beets these days. Especially the non-red ones I see at the farmer's markets.

Little Willow: Seriously, though, my favorite moments include . . . 

. . . the Absolution of Nick, the consideration and explanation of tikkun olam, the rain, and the very end.

Jackie: My most vivid memory of the book is of the ice machine scene, but overall my FAVORITE is simply the sense of how amazing, unexpected, and life-altering one night can be. I think it is actually the contemplative moments near the end that really capture that. It was so well done.

Have you read any other books by Cohn or Levithan?

Jackie: I've read their other collaboration, Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List (which didn't quite live up to the admittedly high bar of N&N). I've also read Cohn's Cupcake and You Know Where to Find Me. I've been meaning to read more Levithan for ages, but haven't managed to get around to it, so I've only read the modern classic that is Boy Meets Boy. I know that I'd love them all, but, well, time. Sigh.

Little Willow: I know that you have a huge stack of books to read, Jac, but I hope that you'll add more books by these authors to the top of that pile. If you liked Cupcake, then you simply must read Shrimp and Gingerbread, the other two books in the CC trilogy by Rachel Cohn. I've read all of their individual novels plus their two collaborative novels. Rachel's books feel real. David's writing has this amazing poetic quality, and he tends to employ very thoughtful narrators. Levithan has also contributed to or edited a number of anthologies.

Jackie: I really want to read Wide Awake and Marley's Ghost, but I just haven't picked them up. I want to see Cohn do a graphic novel. Of course now that MINX is gone (boo! hiss! you didn't give the line enough time DC!), that seems less likely.

 

Little Willow: Oh, I would love to see what she would write for a graphic novel! Have you seen David's contribution in the anthology First Kiss (Then Tell)?

Jackie: No. I tend to avoid things with Kiss actually in the title. Also, not a huge anthology or short story reader. I'm always disappointed I can't spend more time with the characters I love so quickly in short stories, so I avoid the inevitable pain.

Little Willow: Tell is fun, and it has a lot of authors you know and love . . . Nudge, nudge.

 
Do you have any personal anthems?

Little Willow: Since I'm the music-obsessed person who put forth that question, let me tell you how I define personal anthems: favorite songs that capture something that happened to me or something important about me. One of my personal anthems is "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World, which conveys my optimism and patience:

 

It just takes some time

Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything will be just fine

Everything, everything will be all right, all right

Jackie: When I drove across country, alone, to move to a new city where I knew no one, I had most of my friends and family create mixed CDs for me to listen to on the way out. I found my personal anthem for that period of my life in the first mixed CD I listened to. It's "Extraordinary Machine" by Fiona Apple:

If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine

I'm seeing some similarities between your song and mine, LW.

 

If you had to create a playlist that captured the feeling and events of 2008 so far, would you know what to put on it? Name one of the songs you'd use.

Jackie: Oh, that's a tough one. I don't know if I can only pick one... So... I won't. Here are two:

- "Wow and Flutter" by April Smith because there has been a lot of personal change for me this year, and I think there's something in Smith's lyrics that reflects all those changes. Plus, it's just totally fun to listen to.

- Ingrid Michaelson. Not one song. All of them. Every last one of them means something to me this year.

Apparently, I've got something for singer/songwriter chicks from NYC. Huh. I wonder what that says. At least that part matches the book some... *grin*
 

Little Willow: I like making playlists. I made one for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, in fact. For my personal 2008 playlist, I might select "Too Much To Live For" by Lucy Woodward.

N&N is definitely for older teens. Have you seen or heard any opposition to the book? Does it make you cautious when recommending it?

Jackie: I honestly haven't had any personal, real life, objections to the book, but I've heard a lot of complaining online about the language. Since I swore a lot when I was N&N's age, I can't say that I'm really one to critizice on that front. It isn't a book I'd give to just anyone though. I'd really have to have a feel for them. This is, of course, if the book was ever on the shelf, which it hasn't been since the movie trailor started to play.

Little Willow: I don't swear. I'm not kidding when I say that I live a G-rated life. N&N is no less than PG-13. Due to language and certain situations and scenes, I tend it give N&N to people over, say, 15 years of age.  I haven't had any customers respond negatively to it after reading it. I've had some good chats with readers about this book. In fact, I now know of at least four different teens that have become Levithan followers. We passed around How They Met earlier this year and discussed that as well.

How do you feel about the new cover for the paperback? It's a lot different from the original?

Jackie: I'm pretty "meh" about it. I think way fewer guys will pick it up now with that heart on it. And that's a shame.

Little Willow: I like both covers. I think the first one is more gender-neutral and suited to the punk-rock blurred-night fast-happenings feel of the book. However, I love purple and I love cityscapes, so I really like the look of the paperback cover. The movie cover is cute, too. I wish that the flyers and posters had the proper name beside the proper person! Michael's name is beside Kat, and Kat's name is beside Michael. Speaking of which...

Do you plan on seeing the movie? How do you think the movie will compare to the book?

Jackie: I'm so there. I'm braced for significant change, but I'm hoping since it's been some time since I've read the book that it will simply be true to the SPIRIT of the novel. That'll probably be good enough for me. What I fear is that all the best parts are in the preview, and that there's nothing else to see...  

Little Willow: I saw a screening towards the end of September. I knew in advance some of the things that had been changed - the trailers and casting gave some of that way - but I don't want to spoil anything for you. Would you like to talk about the movie after you've seen it and compare it to the book?

Jackie: Yep.

(Little Willow grins.)

 

Tune in next week for our reactions to the film version of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Prepare yourself for spoilers, applause, and other stuff. 

Related Posts and Fun Times: 
Nick & Norah featured in the October 2008 issue of readergirlz
The Cybils 2006 YA Nominations
The Cybils 2006 YA Finalists
The Cybils 2006 YA Hall of Fame
Interactive Reader Book Review: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Bildungsroman Book Review: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Bildungsroman Book Playlists
Bildungsroman Book Roundtables
Bildungsroman Interview with Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Add a Comment

Paula Yoo's debut novel, Good Enough, was declared great by the readergirlz and chosen to be our selection for September 2008.

In this roundtable discussion, three members of the postergirlz teen lit advisory council plus readergirlz diva Lorie Ann Grover talk about schoolwork, homework, and making families work.

Little Willow: What did you think of Good Enough in general?

Jackie: I thought it was a really fun read. I'm happy that I can give it with confidence to all ages - and that's not common.

LW: I agree, Jackie. It's fun and it's clean, so I have no problem giving the book to middle school readers - though most of the girls I've shared it with have been high schoolers, all of which have told me they can "so relate to Patti," and I quote.

HWM: I enjoyed reading this book and could relate to everything on so many levels.

LW: I loved how the humor came from a very real place. It was a truly funny book because the funny bits felt true. The narrator wasn't a comedienne, and she wasn't TRYING to be funny - she simply was.

HWM: I laughed out loud in a couple places and I teared up too. I love books that get the emotions going.

LW: I think - not only from having read the book, but from speaking to the author about it, too - that Paula wrote Good Enough not to be a cautionary tale (this is what happens when you disobey your parents!) nor a recipe (directions on how to disobey your strict parents!) but instead to be simply real. I feel as though she accomplished that.

Lorie Ann: The voice rang true for me. I could feel Patti's pressure and enjoy her humor so much. I was instantly submerged in the story.

LW: Do you think the pressure to get good grades is greater now than it once was? The pressure to get into a good college?

HWM: I think academic pressure is so much more nowadays. In my town, parents debate whether delaying entrance into kindergarten a year is helpful to ensure the child is more mature and smarter to handle the academics and sports as they get older.

LW: I entered school early, then skipped a grade, then accelerated through as much and as quickly as school administrators would permit throughout my entire academic career, and graduated from high school early. I did not go directly to college, however, because we couldn't afford it.

HWM: I am a firm believer that a good college makes a difference:
1. A name college degree is one marker companies understand that shows whether an individual has what it takes to succeed.
2. Since so many people get their masters and doctorate level degrees nowadays, a college degree is expected by most companies as basic training for discipline and hard work.
3. Since so many educated people are out there, the competition for good jobs after college is fierce, so a good name college will help open up doors.
4. There is a huge amount of networking at the college level that will open up doors when one graduates from college -- whether it is from social or professional level standpoint. And I think teens are exposed to this knowledge, not only from their parents and high school counselors, but they also see it in movies and TV.
5. However, with all this said, there are plenty of people who are very successful who don't have the name degree or a college degree. Is it essential to have a degree from a name college? No. Is it helpful? Absolutely.

Jackie: I disagree, HWM. I think that you get out of education what you put into it. I will never believe that simply going to a "name" college makes your future easier. I firmly believe that it is your own ambition that forges your way in life. The only thing an elite college can promise is a huge bill. Networking can be done anywhere, and you make your own name - through whatever means you have, especially in these virtual days. Passion shines through, and hard work will get you what you want if you are savvy enough to play the game. I think that more and more parents and students are realizing this, and that's why community college enrollment is exploding. I'm sure the economy is helping fuel that trend, but when so many teens have no idea what they want when the first start, why waste money just for the brand? It's just another form of shallow consumer materialism. Some of the best colleges out there are ones we've never heard of. It's far more
important for students to find a school that they will feel comfortable and thrive in than one that gives them some silly couture points. But then, I went to state schools, paid my way through (meaning: no school debt), and am quite happy with my dream job.

HWM: Jackie, you've raised great points. You're right, "passion does shine through and hard work will get you what you want..." Because it does and I do agree a degree from a name college isn't essential.

What I wanted to point out is that have a name degree makes life easier. I never thought this when I was younger, in fact, I rebelled against the Ivy League mentality when I was applying to colleges and thought it was the most screwed up thing I've ever heard. But it was so important to my parents, and their determination that I get into a good college so fierce, that I caved in.

Justina Chen Headley's book Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) was the first book I've ever read that I could relate to, and now I can add Paula Yoo's book, Good Enough to nailing it down perfectly. I'm not sure whether my opinion comes from being a product of the Northeast (where education is key, especially if one doesn't have a family pedigree), having Korean parents, experiencing open doors because of my degree, or having worked in the corporate world for years. I would have been so thrilled to have Good Enough and Nothing but the Truth when I was a teen. I didn't realize other parents were like mine until I was in college, and I met my best friend -- her mother is from Germany, her dad from Massachusetts. My friend and I would trade stories and laugh at how the lectures and the pressure to succeed was so similar, which the two of us decided was because our parents were first generation immigrants.

The competition is fierce to get into a good college up here and there are many over-qualified teens who don't get in -- one of my nephews was one of them -- Honors student, hockey team and baseball team captain, Honors Latin, near perfect scores on the SAT, incredible work experience and volunteer experience. In case anyone is curious, US News & World Report has their annual top college list up.

Basically, I think the name college degree helps open up opportunities that one wouldn't get so easily without it. Will it matter ten years or even twenty years later? Probably not. But in those first few years out into the corporate world, at least here in the Northeast, it's very helpful.

Lorie Ann: Interesting thoughts, ladies. I find there's more pressure today to attend Ivy League schools than when I was making my choices. Although I do think there is a quiet movement where students are being challenged to consider a variety of education options. What's profitable for one person might not be so for another. Overall, it does seem to me that there's less pressure on the West Coast than on the East Coast.

HWM: There has been a movement for students to graduate in three years, rather than the customary four years due to the finances. I thought I had put in an article from The Boston Globe. I'll have to look for it. Plus, there are plenty of students who work full-time and then earn their degree on a part-time basis. And let us not forget that work experience is sometimes a degree in itself.

LW: How did your high school experience compare to Patti's?

Jackie: I was largely a slacker in high school. I didn't apply myself or really try all that hard. I got by because I was a good kid, they knew I was smart, and what I'd turn in (when I felt like it) was just good enough to be better than the average. Now, *I* consider myself a slacker because I know I could have done A LOT better, but I'm not sure that was the general perception of me, though I'm sure my teachers suspected I could have done better. I got mostly A's and B's, and I didn't care one bit. And now I've got a Master's Degree. *rolls eyes*

LW: I took as many honors courses as were permitted and wouldn't settle for anything less than an A. My mom didn't push me like Patti's parents. I pushed myself. I have always been a perfectionist and a knowledge seeker.

HWM: My experience was similar to Patti's in some respects. Korean parents and academics usually equals pressure. At least that was my experience. But I find the pressure, for most teens, has probably intensified over the years since I was in high school. There was a population explosion which probably means the numbers of teens applying to college increased. Plus, there are a lot of smart and talented teens out there -- sports, music, philanthropist, theatre, singing, volunteer work, entrepreneur, etc. There are teens that have accomplished so much that I can only imagine they have raised the bar for what college admissions see. Plus, the sports. Did you see all the teenage elite athletes out in the Olympics?

Lorie Ann: I was driven like Patti in high school, but like Little Willow, not by my parents. They never focused on my achieving an end. I did.

LW: Do you all feel as though this story will stand the test of time? I think it will. The situations Patti finds herself in and the embarrassments and pressures she experiences are timeless: parental pressure, schoolwork, first crush, etc.

HWM: This is definitely a story that will stand the test of time.

Lorie Ann: Oh, yes. The example of thinking for yourself, discovering what you truly want, and communicating that to others, even your parents, is timeless. *applauds Paula*

LW: Do any of you play musical instruments? Did any of you play in your school band?

Lorie Ann: I always wanted to play an instrument. Ballet took my entire focus though. I hung out with band geeks all through high school. Then my oldest daughter played flute for 8 years with the band and became drum major. I loved every minute that I shared in her experience.

HWM: I played piano and violin. I am amused with this books since my musical experience is somewhat similar to Patti's. I competed in All State Music Competitions for violin, won a music scholarship, tutored younger kids in violin, played in the pit orchestra of all our musical shows, thought about studying to become a concert violinist, and was first chair in the orchestra until my senior year -- when I became second chair -- because my music teacher knew I was burned out and my heart wasn't in it.

LW: I can play piano and flute. I learned flute through a course offered in elementary school, but we didn't have a band there or then. I played flute in my middle school band as well as a community band.

Jackie: I played trombone from 5th grade through my sophomore year in college. I participated in Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, Musicals (on stage, not the pit), Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz, and Choral. I was a total band geek. And so were most of my friends. We had so much fun.

LW: What do you have in common with Patti? I share her drive, her desire to excel, and her respect for both creative and intellectual pursuits.

Lorie Ann: I have her drive also, Little Willow. I share her respect for her parents. I know the feeling of losing yourself in your art as Patti does.

LW: Patti's mother loves to cook with SPAM. Do you like SPAM? I don't. I'm a vegetarian!

Jackie: My Dad does, so I had my share of fried SPAM in my youth. It's just really salty. Sometimes I'm tempted to hold a dinner party planned exclusively around the SPAM recipes that show up on the Gmail banner when I delete my spam folder. But then I remember that most of my friends are veggies.

Lorie Ann: I haven't had SPAM since my childhood, but I was tempted to buy a can after reading the novel. It's funny that I lived in Korea for a year and never came across SPAM!

LW: You could always use the book group-slash-party ideas Paula shared in the issue!

HWM: The SPAM segments in this book were amusing. I never knew SPAM was so versatile in Korean food. My mom sliced it thin and fried the pieces for breakfast. So instead of bacon or ham, we'd have fried SPAM and egg, which if I remember was good.

Lorie Ann: Yes! That's how my mother made it, too.

LW: How is your family or culture like Patti's? How did her culture inform her character? How does yours?

Jackie: I don't recall my family ever pressuring me to do anything (other than maybe cleaning my room...). My mom just wants me to be happy, and however I need(ed) to achieve that is cool with her, which is probably why we've got such a great relationship -- and probably why I'm a second generation librarian.

HWM: You're lucky, Jackie. I can't imagine a childhood without the pressure. The parental pressure for academics was forefront in my life. I never understood it then, but now, I can see where my parents were coming from. For my parents, and perhaps for many immigrant parents who experienced childhood during political struggles and war, a better life is what drove them to work hard and to dream big dreams for their children. Academic excellence was hand-in-hand to my parents' idea of the American dream of success -- a well-respected career, beautiful home and car, loving family -- and it all equaled happiness, security, stability and hope. My parents have mellowed down over the years. I rebelled too much against their ideals and they finally got that I needed to find my own success and happiness, my way. It's been quite the road to self-discovery.

Lorie Ann: Patti's culture definitely formed her character. She came away with an amazing focus and strength to speak her mind respectfully to her parents. My family never pressured me to achieve an end. The only thing required was to work hard at whatever I put my hand to. Whatever I chose needed to receive my full effort. I'm so thankful for that emphasis!

LW: I was raised by an amazing single mother and older sister. They have always believed in me, and still support my dreams to this day. I'm glad to say that I feel confident and comfortable most of the time. When I'm on stage and performing, or simply talking to people in real life, or even just walking down the street, I'm generally in a good mood. When do you feel the most self-confident? The happiest?

Jackie: I'm happiest when I'm with the people I love - the most self-confident, too. Which proves to me that your personal life IS more important than your professional life.

HWM: I'm at my most self-confident when I do things well and feel good about myself. I'm happiest when I'm with my family, watch my children grow, and write.

Lorie Ann: I'm most comfortable and confident when I'm laughing with my family or a group of friends. Whether they are around me physically or actually in a wonderful book like Good Enough.

We hope this roundtable discussion has piqued your interest, and will encourage you to give Good Enough a peak! Check out the corresponding issue of readergirlz, read the book, and join us at the readergirlz forum to discuss Good Enough even further.

Read my review of Good Enough by Paula Yoo.

Add a Comment

If anyone is willing to share their prom pictures, be they recent or from years past, please post them in the comments below! I need them by the end of this week (ideally, sooner) to go with a roundtable discussion of Laurie Halse Anderson's book PROM. Since I have only one picture so far from one of the roundtable participants, I thought I'd open it up to all of you.

So come on. I dare you. Leave me a comment below with your picture (or a link to it) and what you'd like the picture's caption to say or tell me if you'd rather remain anonymous. I will screen the comments so no one will see the pictures until the roundtable has been posted.

Add a Comment

The readergirlz book selection for April is Shark Girl, a verse novel by Kelly Bingham about a young woman whose life changes after she loses an arm. Little Willow, Miss Erin, and Lorie Ann Grover gathered around a virtual roundtable to discuss the book.

Little Willow: I'm fond of saying that Shark Girl is 95% verse novel but 100% heart.

Miss Erin: When I finished reading it, I felt that the story wouldn't have been as good if it'd been told using prose. For certain "tough subjects," verse novel seem to make the story feel starker, more real, more close somehow. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Lorie Ann Grover: Verse is the perfect format to carry intense emotion about hard subjects. Shark Girl definitely deals with these. Verse allows readers to jump in and out of the poems. We have a chance to consider and recover and move forward. It's not as daunting as, say, an entire prose chapter on amputation.

LW: Lorie Ann, you've written multiple verse novels. For you, what's the most difficult part of the writing process? The easiest?

Lorie Ann: I'm actually writing in both prose and verse now, and I don't find either is easier or harder to write. What I do find is each has its own
benefits. Prose carries far more details; verse provides the punch because of its visual impact and structure. I love them both! The work in verse is to pare down to the essentials. The work in prose is to tell enough to create a real sense of place. I guess those are my goals.

LW: I write poetry from time to time, but more often, they are lyrics. I write songs, and they tend to appear complete with lyrics, melodies, and harmonies, all at once.

Erin: I write poems - free verse, mostly. I'd love to write a novel in verse one day.

LW: Write it, Erin!

Lorie Ann: Jumping in here. I don't write much stand alone poetry anymore. I just have so many novels I'm rewriting! Although standalone poems will eek out of me into board books. I love the format so much.

Erin: I adore verse novels. My favorites are Make Lemonade by Virginia Wolff and Loose Threads and On Pointe by Lorie Ann Grover. My favorite poet is Emily Dickinson. I have a book of her complete poetry collection.

LW: Emily is my favorite poet as well.

Erin: What's your favorite poem by Emily? It changes all the time for me, but at the moment I really love poem #704.

LW: I have always favored one of her most famous pieces, ##288 - I'm Nobody! Who are you? I discovered #953 - A Door just opened on a street just a few years ago and like that quite a lot as well. My favorite poem/passage from Shark Girl is this:

Their heads lean toward each other.
Their whispers reach my ears.
The two girls over there
fingering their notebooks,
staring.

If they would lift their tinted eyelashes
they would notice I'm staring back.
But they don't.
So I turn in my chair,
placing my shoulder out of their sight.

Erin: Here's my favorite passage:

You know the part in Cinderella
when everyone goes to the ball
and she sits at home, crying?
It wasn't because her gown was ripped.
It was because she knew
she was an idiot
for thinking
she could grab a prince.

Lorie Ann: I love Ghost, printed in light gray before the book begins. Here's the last portion:

Sometimes
a prickle crawls across my cheek,
and that right hand tries to
rise from the grave,
moved to scratch.
The fingers, palm.
wrist, and arm
that I remember,
don't know enough
to know
peace.

Erin: Oh yes, that one gives me chills!

LW: After Jane loses her arm, she has to learn how to write and draw with her other hand.

Erin: I was rooting so hard for her! I knew that she could get back to it. Her determination and bravery was inspiring.

Lorie Ann: It was a huge undertaking but so important for her soul and felt purpose. I loved the support she received from family and friends to just try.

LW: Does this book make you reluctant to swim in the ocean?

Erin: Not really. I guess I don't want fear of something that may never happen to keep me from enjoying something as amazing and wonderful as the ocean. What is meant to be will be.

Lorie Ann: Yes! But JAWS did that back in the seventies, I guess. Growing up in Miami, sharks were always on our mind. Sections of beaches get closed
because of shark sightings in shallow water. (Lorie Ann shivers) It's a reality. I always think about it when I go in. And then the gators are in the fresh water. We used to swim in a sulphur pond with the gators. We got out whenever they came to our side of the pond. Water equals predators (sharks, gators, water mocassins, man o'war jellyfish, eels. Maybe that's why I love the Pacific Northwest beaches. You hardly ever go in.

LW: Don't tell Maureen Johnson about the jellyfish! My favorite sea creatures are otters. When I was a kid, I had a friend who loved sharks almost as much as she loved cats. What are your general feelings about sharks?

Erin: As long as I'm seeing them behind glass, I'm okay with them!

Lorie Ann: Scary, scary beasties that freak me out! Was I happy when my daughter fed the sharks by walking on a plank with no rails above the middle of their huge tank? She dropped chunks of fish to them? (She was job shadowing Marine Biologists.) Yikes! Although, most of my nightmares have orcas in them...

LW: Sadly, there are people who judge others based on their appearance. Have you ever felt as if you were judged on your looks, or on your abilities or disabilities?

Erin: Well, as an actor, I am constantly being judged by my abilities. It's tough, when I don't get a role, not to take it personally sometimes.

Lorie Ann: I'm usually quickly judged on my height. I'm perceived as haughty rather than shy.

LW: Any closing thoughts?

Lorie Ann: Thanks, Kelly, for writing a book to encourage readers to redefine themselves after life changing events. Thanks for inspiring us!

"Big picture, Jane," he says.
"You could have died.
Instead, you are here. You have time to find out why.
You have your whole life to discover
and rebuild."

If you enjoyed this post, I hope you'll check out previous roundtable discussions, which include three friends giving A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian a try and the postergirlz for readergirlz considering Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

Related Posts at Bildungsroman:
Interview: Kelly Bingham
Book Review: Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham
Booklist: Verse Novels

Add a Comment

I head up postergirlz, the book advisory council for readergirlz. We were all very taken with Just Listen, this month's book pick, so we set up a virtual roundtable to discuss it further. We hope this post will encourage you to read the book and post your thoughts at the readergirlz forum. Miss Erin was unable to attend, but the other council members - Jackie, Alexia, HipWriterMama, and me, Little Willow - were present and very chatty. Feel free to Just Listen in!

HipWriterMama: I can't believe I read Just Listen in one sitting.

Little Willow: Go HipWriter Mama! I'm proud.

HWM: I put off reading the book, because the cover art didn't appeal to me. I figured I'd read a couple chapters and by then, I couldn't put the book down. It was really good.

Alexia: I read it in one sitting too! I completely ignored all of my homework, that was a problem the next day, but it was totally worth it!

LW: (said knowingly, not scolding) Do your homework, young lady.

Jac: I actually started Just Listen on audio book during a long trip. I was down to the last two CDs when I got home, and I just couldn't wait for the next time I got in the car, so I had to dig up the book and read it to the end right after I got home!

HWM: Are there really teenage boys like Owen out there?

LW: I certainly didn't know any when I was in high school. Did any of you?

Jac: I don't think I would have been brave enough to find out. But I think that boys are far more sensitive then anyone likes to admit.

Alexia: If there are, they are not in my school. At least, they don't admit to being like that. I think I would drop dead of shock if I ran into someone like Owen at my school.

HWM: I don't think I ever knew teenage boy that was that into honesty and communication. It would have plain freaked me out back in my commitment phobic years. But now, if I could go back as a teen, Owen would be a wow in my book.

(Alexia agrees.)

LW: Would you dare to live in a glass house?

HWM: Nope. Though all the sunlight would be amazing.

Jac: Dude. I don't like people looking at me in the best of circumstances. There's no way I'd be cool with them looking at me when I'm not aware. That's just creepy.

LW: I wouldn't be worried about what others thought of me, but I would be concerned for my personal safety.

Alexia: I don't know if I would necessarily, but I wouldn't mind maybe a glass kitchen? Maybe. That seems like an okay place to be visible. Maybe I just don't spend enough time in the kitchen, warming mac & cheese doesn't really tell people a lot about you - except that you can't cook.

LW: Macaroni plus cheese equals yum. Speaking of food, I love the scene when Owen invites Annabel out for bacon, and she learns about Owen and Rolly's tradition at the Morning Cafe. This is also the scene in which The Truth About Forever characters Wes and Macy cameo, though their names are never stated. I love that so much.

Alexia: I totally noticed Wes and Macy! I miss those guys.

LW: Me too. I think Wes and Owen would get along. I loved how Owen was so attuned to music, even if it wasn't necessarily my kind of music.

Alexia: Not only was he attuned to music, he had no problems sharing his unique views on different types of music. That's what really struck me about him.

LW: Music is a big part of my life, but I'd rather listen to my own mixes than the mainstream radio. I enjoy a wide variety of music. I love musical soundtracks, classical music, and film score music, but I also love the music and lyrics of Duncan Sheik, Jonatha Brooke, and Jimmy Eat World.

Alexia: My favorite musicians change often. At the moment, my favorite is probably Elton John, but that may be a phase. I think that any music that puts me into a good mood is good music. But I'm not excluding sad songs, because they can be beautiful too, like Dancing by Elisa.

LW: Which characters did you relate to or enjoy the most?

Jac: I totally love Annabel's sister Whitney. The scenes where she's tending her window garden were great. Maybe it's obvious symbolism, that Whitney could heal and grow through caring for plants, but there was a poignancy and even some humor that I really appreciated.

Alexia: Strange as it may seem I think I'm a mixture of Annabel and her oldest sister Kirsten. Some things I keep really private and I am great at keeping my emotions in check, but the first thing people seem to notice about me is a loud personality. The personality, however, rarely reflects important things.

HWM: I want to have a ring with Or Not engraved on the inside.

Alexia: Yes, yes, yes! A ring, the key necklace from Lock and Key, and the sculptures from The Truth About Forever. I can open a whole shop. Little Willow and I are going to make key necklaces.

LW: We really are. She just got the keys. Back to Annabel: Did you see the big reveal of past events coming? Was it a surprise? or a letdown? or an "I knew it!" reaction?

Jac: One of the things that I like about Just Listen is that she wasn't raped, and how traumatic the assault is - it doesn't have to go that far to still have a life-changing impact. It was a interesting choice for Dessen to make, as YA is often about the extremes, so it's much more expected for there to have been a full blown rape.

LW: The scene with the assault was shocking. It wasn't graphic nor was it dirty. It happened quickly, as quickly as the assault happened. He violated her body with his, and he did so without her consent, so I definitely think it was a form of rape.

Alexia: I think what Jackie pointed out was that this form of violation isn't usually found in YA novels which focus more on the emotional outcomes due to being sexually abused. I think that while both forms are abhorrent, Anabelle's is much less discussed and often
overlooked. The actual rape was prevented, but the consequences remained.

Jac: Wasn't Just Listen challenged?

LW: It was challenged at a high school in Florida, but fortunately, it has stayed on their shelves! I wrote an entire post about it, and I'll post some relevant links at the end of our roundtable for our online readers. I support all of Sarah's novels. I started with years ago with Dreamland, then went back to That Summer, her first published novel, and read all of her books which were available at that time in the order they were published. I've been following her new releases ever since.

Jac: The first book I finally picked up of Dessen's was Dreamland. I was subbing one hot summer at a tiny little library. It wasn't terribly busy and I was going through and weeding (the process where librarians get rid of books that are gross or falling apart or just not leaving the library) the teen section. I wasn't really into the book I was reading, so on my break I grabbed Dreamland. I remember sitting in the break room, absolutely absorbed from the first page. Caitlin was so clearly grieving over her sister. Her pain was palpable, and I wanted to see what happened to that relationship, what happened to Cass, and how Caitlin finds herself outside of her idolatry of her sister.

HWM: I just started reading Dreamland this afternoon.

Alexia: I started with Lock and Key and I loved it. Now I've read Just Listen and The Truth About Forever too. Both were absolutely amazing!

Jac: I have such high expectations from Dessen - so high that I haven't gone out and immediately read all of her books. I want to save them and savor them when I need the sort of emotional fulfillment that she always provides. I'm also afraid that, since there's a very similar tone to her books, if I read them right in a row, I won't appreciate them as much as I would if I spread them out a bit.

Alexia: Hmm. I read three in a short time and I had no trouble appreciating her, but I do see what you mean about the tone being similar.

LW: That's not necessarily a bad thing. Each story still stands on its own, I think. My favorite Sarah Dessen book is The Truth About Forever. Does anyone else have a favorite?

Alexia: Just Listen is my favorite, hands down. I absolutely loved everything about it! Owen rocks, Anabelle is great, and the story is wonderfully plotted. The Truth About Forever comes in at a close second though. I didn't get as into Wes and Macy's relationship as I did with Owen and Annabel.

Jac: I've been saving The Truth About Forever and This Lullaby to read when I really need a comfort read, as those are the ones most people I know claim as their favorites.

Alexia: I haven't read This Lullaby, but I know a few people who say that's their favorite as well. Maybe I'm subconsciously saving it?

HWM: Prior to reading Just Listen, I hadn't read any other Sarah Dessen books, but I will definitely read them now.

LW: That sounds just like what Alexia said to me after she read Lock and Key.

---

More about the Just Listen challenge:

Challenges to Just Listen by Sarah Dessen in Tampa, FL
They Tried to Ban This Book Today, or, There's a Sticker on the Cover of This Book
School Says Book Can Stay

Some of Sarah's posts regarding the matter:
December 12th, 2007
December 13th, 2007
December 14th, 2007
January 11th, 2008

---

Want to discuss this and other books with readers from all over the world? Visit the readergirlz forum, where we'll be discussing Just Listen all month long.

Sarah Dessen herself will also be dropping by the readergirlz forum throughout the month. We'll host an hour-long chat with her on Thursday, March 27th at 12:00 PM PST / 3:00 PM EST.

Related Posts: Check out other roundtable book discussions at Bildungsroman as well as my reviews of Sarah Dessen's novels.

Add a Comment

Kind of, anyway.

In America, everyone has heard of tough-love bootcamps.

But to judge by this letter I received from a German bookreviewer (Shock Point just appeared over there), they have not.

Here is my not-very-good (I lived there for seven months more than 20 years ago) translation:

"Dear April Henry:
I've just read your YA "Breakout" (Shock Point) and am very impressed and very shaken. Most shaken over the condtions and educational methods in the educational camp Peaceful Cove. Are such camps actually a reality in the USA? And how many youths (as an estimated percentage) go thorugh such camps? And is it actually so easy to be sent there even if you are innocent? The depiction of Peaceful Cove (although physically far worse) reminded me of Billy Wilders "They were only children" [Full description: can't find any information about this movie - do you guy's know it? In German she called it Und sie waren nur Kinder] that I saw a long time ago, in which the parents leave their children in a vacation camp while they are on vacation, with substantial psychological problems for the children."

I hadn't even thought about how one story based in one culture might not translate into another culture. But from her letter, I'm doubting that idea of bootcamps even exists in Germany. I would imagine only a tiny, tiny percentage of American kids end up in any of these camps, let alone the notorious ones overseas. While I was able to reassure her that not many kids end up in these kind of schools or bootcamps, the ones who do may not necessarily be even all that troubled. In many cases that I looked at, in fact, the primary problem seems to be that the parents have divorced, remarried, and are frustrated by their teen acting out. We give parents a lot of freedom to do enroll their kid in any kind of school, including ones out of the country.

Here's the New York Times article that started my story, as well as a fascinating article in the The Guardian.





Subscribe with
JacketFlap's
Children's
Publishing
Blog Reader

Add a Comment