Book Review: Far From the Tree

Far From the Tree

Robin Benway
Release date: October 3, 2017

Rating 5/5

The First Line:

Grace hasn’t really thought too much about homecoming.

The Plot:

Despite growing up with loving adopted parents, Grace decides to go on a hunt for her birth mom after she herself gives up her newborn daughter. Her search leads her to a younger half sister Maya, the only dark haired child in a family of redheads, and their older half brother Joaquin who has bounced from foster home to foster home.

Three siblings, all with different upbringings, learn about each other and themselves while they wonder what happened to woman who had abandoned them as children.

The Characters:

Far From the Tree is told from all three perspectives in alternating chapters. The first sibling we meet is Grace who had been a model student – until the day she found out she was pregnant. Giving up her daughter was one of the hardest things she had to do, and even though her parents are supportive, she withdraws from them, isolating herself, until she meets a new boy named Rafe. Grace is very secretive and while it’s easy to be frustrated with the way she withholds information from her family, I can’t imagine the pain of giving up a child when you’re barely more than a child yourself. That being said, Grace’s story might be the easiest to handle because of all the support she receives (plus Rafe is the absolute best and made me laugh multiple times).

Maya, the youngest, is next. Her parents adopted her shortly before finding out that they had naturally conceived, so she’s grown up with a younger sister. Maya’s family is outwardly perfect – they practically threw her a party when she came out – but her parents fight all the time and Maya is sometimes jealous of the way her sister Lauren fits in while she’s always felt like the outsider. Maya is the boisterous sibling – she talks a lot when she’s nervous and bosses the other two around – but her development is fascinating to watch as she goes from being an older sibling to being the youngest. I was worried I wouldn’t like Maya because she had such a huge personality, but she won me over once I realized that underneath the loud exterior, she was a sweet, insecure ball of mush.

Joaquin’s story was the most heartbreaking and I think his arc was my favourite. Abandoned by his mother at a young age and bounced around in the foster care system for most of his life, Joaquin has given up the hope of being adopted and constantly distances himself from the people who do care. But his current “parents”, Mark and Linda, are different – they WANT Joaquin but he’s too scared to let them in all the way. Joaquin is the most broken of the siblings – lacking the structured upbringing they both received, he finds it hard to connect with his newfound sisters, wanting to shield them from the details of his difficult life.

The Writing:

I may be biased because Robin Benway is one of my favourite contemporary YA authors (her debut novel, Audrey, Wait! is one of my most favourite books of all time) and so this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. But I truly think that Far From The Tree deserves all the awards buzz and accolades that it’s been receiving since it came out at the beginning of October (like being nominated for the National Book Award). Benway’s writing is at its best here: the siblings’ encounters feel real as they struggle to find a balance between being themselves and impressing their newfound family. Their individual family lives are equally emotional – less than twenty pages in, I knew Benway was going to make me cry (and she did).

My sister (after I forced the book into her hands, weeping “READ IT PLEASE”) suggested that Far From the Tree has an almost Wizard Of Oz-esque story line: all three are looking for pieces of themselves that will ultimately lead them “home” – whether “home” is their birth mother or each other. Joaquin needs to learn how to let people into his heart, Grace needs the courage to live after giving up her baby, and Maya needs to get out of her head (or brain) when it comes to her adopted family. I don’t know if that was Benway’s intention, but it actually makes a lot of sense.

Some reviews suggest that maybe it was too dramatic, and perhaps things worked out a little too nicely, but I think – sadly – that there are people who experience the same things as Joaquin, Grace, and Maya – and I, for one, am glad a lot of their issues were resolved at the end. (I’m all for unhappy endings once in a while, but I think, if something happened to any of those three precious children, it would have broken me). In the Acknowledgements, Benway calls out the people who shared their stories with her, so I have no doubt that this was heavily researched, allowing her to capture the real emotions and thoughts of people in similar situations.

The Bottom Line:

I can’t recommend this one enough! Just bring tissues with you, and avoid reading it on the subway after a long day because then yeah, you will 100% tear up and have to blink quickly so that people don’t give you a wary look. Joaquin, Grace, and Maya feel so real that their experiences will poke you right in the heart and leave you wishing you could just gather them up and protect them from the world.

The Soundtrack:

Aesthetically, Neck Deep’s “In Bloom” would work better (you get it? In BLOOM and Far From the TREE?), but immediately after reading this, the song I associated with it was “19 Seventy Sumthin'” (which actually uses a tree comparison in the chorus).

Like Far From the Tree, “19 Seventy Sumthin'” is about family – and, like the book, it has some lighthearted moments, but also has the ability to make me sob EVERY TIME as it tells the story of a relationship (based on singer Ben Barlow’s parents) that ended abruptly when one of them had a heart attack. I’m literally tearing up as I write this (ask my sister about that time I started crying into my cider because I insisted on listening to it even though I knew what it would do to me), so you should probably just listen to it for yourself…but maybe bring one of those tissues you used while reading the book (if you have any left) and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

And we will hold you when you cry
‘Cause that’s what family does

Book Review: The Winnowing

The Winnowing

Vikki VanSickle
Release date: September 1, 2017

Rating 4/5

The First Line:

I’m flying. At least that’s what it feels like.

The Plot:

After World War II, much of the world suffered an infertility crisis until a new hormone, SuperGen, was produced. A biproduct of the infertility crisis, caused by experimental technology and chemical weapons, is the onset of ACES (Adolescent Chronosomniatic Episodes), a horrible type of nightmare that occurs during puberty, as well as imps (Adolescent Physical Impairments) like increased speed and numbness to temperatures. The only way to stop going ACES and experiencing imps is to get a procedure called the winnowing.

Marivic Stone finds herself going ACES the day after her best friend Saren is checks into the Barton Center to undergo the winnowing, a process that normalizes young adults by stripping them of their nightmares and side-effects. When Marivic joins her friend and a handful of classmates, they find themselves unravelling Barton’s darkest secrets and discovering truths that threaten their very lives.

The Characters:

Marivic is a great protagonist for this type of story because we really get to see her grow and develop. Since she’s so young and just going through puberty, she can be volatile and insecure but that doesn’t stop her from being brave when she needs to be. At first, Marivic is teased for being careful and a bit of a wet blanket, especially compared to her impulsive bff Saren, but when her friend is in danger, Marivic finds the strength to go after the doctors at Barton, determined to learn the truth.

There are a lots of great supporting characters – Saren, of course, is wonderful, and her sweet friendship with Marivic is a huge part of the plot. Other characters include their fellow classmates like Kamal who is a bit of a jerk at first, but grows into a decent person; Roya, Marivic’s “nurse” at Barton who has secrets of her own; and a whole group of people working against Barton who take Marivic under their wing when she needs support. And, of course, there’s Marivic’s grandfather, Gumps, who raised Marivic after her mother tragically died, and who may have information that the doctors at Barton are desperate for.

The Writing:

I realize my synopsis and character descriptions were very vague, but I didn’t have a choice: there are a lot of twists and turns that make The Winnowing a hard book to summarize – I don’t want to give too much away and accidentally spoil the experience. I will say that there are moments of intrigue, and moments of sadness (I was emotionally distressed on the subway during one particular chapter because I did NOT see that plot point coming), and a couple of “OMG” moments. There was such a big emphasis on friendship and coming of age, and I found it refreshing that there was no romance (don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the blossoming of early love in middle grade, but it wasn’t necessary here and Vikki didn’t force it).

I’ll also admit that I was hesitant to talk about The Winnowing because I happen to know Vikki VanSickle personally (full disclosure: she’s my boss!!), and I was worried reading it would be a bad idea: what if I hated it?? Thankfully, Vikki is an excellent writer: she took something as ordinary as hitting puberty and turned it into a sci-fi adventure. It did take me a little while to get into The Winnowing, but once Marivic settles in at Barton and stumbles over their secrets, it moves a lot faster, and I really enjoyed the ending.

And I like that the book took place in the eighties, but we weren’t smacked over the head with nostalgia and references (unlike other books I’ve read recently, *cough READY PLAYER ONE cough*). The parts that take place at Barton reminded me of Stranger Things, but honestly, who isn’t in a Stranger Things-ready mind frame right now?

The Bottom Line:

Again, I don’t want to spoil it too much for you, but The Winnowing’s out-of-this-world twist isn’t something often found in middle grade (or early young adult), which makes the plot refreshing and easy to get sucked into. It’s technically middle grade, but it could work for the younger end of YA as well. My eleven year old niece read it in a day (I assume it was one sitting) and immediately informed me that it was “REALLY GOOD” which is high praise coming from a kid who is essentially a non-magic version of Hermione Granger.

The Soundtrack:

I went with PVRIS because I feel like Marivic would appreciate the badass that is Lynn Gunn. And while there are no ghosts in The Winnowing, there are other supernatural beings who I feel certain PVRIS would believe in.

A lot of PVRIS’s songs seem to be about relationships, so it was a little hard finding one that spoke to being a child, but “Nola 1” references the way people can change or grow – while I’m pretty sure Lynn Gunn means it figuratively, Marivic literally changes/grows over the course of the novel, so it kind of works.

These picture frames don’t hang the way they used to
They will turn around, and half are filled with my youth
But as sweet reminders of my life before you
Split me in two

Book Review: Ramona Blue

Ramona Blue

Julie Murphy
Release date: May 9, 2017

Rating 4/5

The First Line:

This is a memory I want to keep forever: Grace standing at the stove of her parents’ rental cottage in one of her dad’s oversize T-shirts as she makes us a can of SpaghettiOs.

The Plot:

Ramona’s life is pretty sad. Her summertime girlfriend has moved away. Years ago, her childhood home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina so she lives in a trailer that’s too small for her tall frame. Her sister Hattie is pregnant and the baby-daddy is not very reliable, so Ramona feels responsible for her unborn niece/nephew. Her parents are divorced – her father works hard to support her and her sister, while her mother is a bit of a flake who thinks she’ll “grow out” of her fondness for girls.

Then her childhood friend Freddie comes back to town. And Ramona, who has always identified as a lesbian, finds herself falling in love with him.

Also features swimming lessons, a pair of fabulous gay siblings who should get a spinoff of their own, and Mississippi.

The Characters:

This is very much a character-driven novel – don’t get me wrong, stuff happens, but the majority of the book focuses on character development and relationships.

I actually can’t get a great grip on Ramona herself (it’s been a few weeks since I read this, I don’t remember how I felt about her when I started it). She’s a complicated creature, defined mostly by her relationships with the other characters – I’m not sure if I can even talk about her as a separate person (without spoiling the book), so I’ll focus instead on her two major relationships.

I love that Julie Murphy put such a huge emphasis on Ramona’s sisterly bond with Hattie. Hattie, while older, is the one who needs Ramona more, even if she doesn’t realize it. Ramona is the one who works twice as hard to make money for her sister’s doctor appointments and baby supplies. Ramona is the one who lets her sister sleep in her bed when Hattie’s boyfriend moves into their tiny trailer. Ramona is the one who is reluctantly ready to give up her dreams of moving away after high school in order to support Hattie and her unborn child. In short, Ramona gives Hattie her all, and Hattie worships her, even if she can’t provide for her. It’s really sweet to see such a strong sibling relationship, and Murphy does a great job of showing us how Hattie and Ramona both frustrate and adore each other.

The other big relationship, of course, is Ramona’s new love interest, Freddie. A good chunk of Ramona’s inner monologue shows us a confused young woman trying to sort out her sexual identity – on the one hand, she’s always been interested in girls (and still is), but on the other hand, she can’t deny that her feelings for Freddie extend to more than “just friends”. The fact that Freddie is black and Ramona is white just adds an extra layer of complication to their relationship; while Ramona, as a lesbian and later a self-professed bisexual, she faces a certain set of stigmas, while Freddie, being black in Mississippi (a state that is, let’s face it, predominately white) faces a whole different set of stigmas. There are a couple of poignant scenes between them as they struggle to understand the experiences the other is going through – Freddie can’t quite comprehend how Ramona went from having a girlfriend to wanting a boyfriend, while Ramona takes her skin tone for granted, not thinking that certain situations could have different consequences if you’re a person of colour.

The Writing:

Like I said before, Julie Murphy handles Ramona’s thoughts and roller-coaster emotions well – whether it’s untangling her messy family history, or exploring her newly changed relationship with Freddie. In general, there are scenes that will tug at your heartstrings, and scenes that will make you feel frustrated, and yet more scenes that will make you stop and say “huh, I never thought of that”. Murphy’s previous novel, Dumplin’, provided us with a sharp commentary on physical appearance, and this latest one tackles sexual confusion – both of which are topics that are important to unpack, particularly in YA novels where the target audience needs to hear/read a conversation being started.

The Bottom Line:

I’ll admit, the book is pretty long, and not much happens in it, but I’d compare it to Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs the Homo-Sapiens Agenda (which, if you haven’t read, you should!!!): the plot is just a vehicle to get you in touch with these characters and spend a few months in their heads. It’s a story that will offer some people a different perspective, and will give others an opportunity to relate to Ramona’s experiences, so I recommend it (for such a long book, it actually doesn’t take too long to finish).

The Soundtrack:

Did I pick a Waterparks song just because I happen to be a little obsessed with them right now? Maybe, but “Stupid for You” actually works pretty well with Ramona and her two major relationships. Not only is she willing to do anything for Hattie, but when she and Freddie start to define what they are to each other, she finds it hard to focus on anything (or anyone) else.

Similarly, this song seems to be about the start of a new relationship when the couple is in the “honeymoon stage” and no one else matters. I especially like the line that refers to being a “natural blue”: in the song, it’s a reference to a previous Waterparks song and also singer Awsten Knight, who, like Ramona, can most often be found sporting blue hair. (P.S. If you want a brief chuckle, watch the official music video).

I’m color-coding my moods
You’re yellow, I’m natural blue
Let’s get together and be green like my insides

Series Review: Lockwood and Co

Lockwood and Co

Jonathan Stroud
Release date: 2013-2017

Rating 5/5

The First Line:

Of the first few hauntings I investigated with Lockwood & Co. I intend to say little, in part to protect the identity of the victims, in part because of the gruesome nature of the incidents, but mainly because, in a variety of ingenious ways, we succeeded in messing them all up.

The Plot:

Lockwood and Co, a series spanning five books (The Screaming Staircase, The Whispering Skull, The Hollow Boy, The Creeping Shadow, and The Empty Grave), follows the adventures of a group of ghost-hunting teens in an alternate London where spirits flow freely through the streets.

The story kicks off when badass Lucy Carlyle joins an independent team of ghost-hunters led by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. The only other team member is portly George Cubbins who has a penchant for snacks and knowledge. Most of London is taken care of by major ghost-hunting agencies like the legendary Fittes Agency and their rivals in the Rotwell Agency.

It’s hard to describe the plot of each book without spoiling all the things, but basically, there is a Problem – ghosts are roaming freely and since only people under the age of twenty can see ghosts without advanced technology, there are groups of children whose jobs are to perform basic exorcisms and get rid of the spirits – some go easily, while others are more violent, and either way, the ghost-hunting teens have to destroy the source that traps the ghosts on our earthly plane.

The Characters:

I can’t even begin to describe how much I love the characters in this series. Every single one of them is so special and dear to my heart that I was a wreck while reading the last book because I was worried one (or more) of them would die and leave me devastated.

Our narrator, Lucy, is badass and wonderful and ugh, I love her so much! Lucy is extremely talented – while all ghost-hunting children have their own abilities, some of Lucy’s are enhanced: she can hear spirits better than most. Because of this talent, she strikes up a conversation with a mysterious Skull in a jar (a powerful ghostly source), who eventually becomes her reluctant confidante and mentor. I don’t have enough words to really do their relationship justice, but it’s one of the highlights of the series – the Skull has a Bartimaeus-y vibe in that he’s super sarcastic but secretly cares about Lucy.

I’m not going to lie, I have a bit of a crush on Anthony Lockwood. He’s the charismatic leader of Lockwood and Co, with a tragic past, a bit of a hero complex, and a deep fondness for Lucy (I ship them so hard).

The third original member of Lockwood and Co is George, who is sort of like a cross between Hermione and Ron. He’s book smart (but that doesn’t stop him from being brave and helpful in a ghostly fight), and can sometimes be sarcastic (not to mention, he’s not always on top of personal hygiene), but he’s kind-hearted and generally good for a laugh.

In later books, the trio becomes a quartet with the addition of Holly Munro, who Lucy is reluctant to accept; and then later a quintet when they’re joined by a former Fittes agent/longtime rival Quill Kipps. With each new addition, the company has to grow and change, which sometimes causes tension because, at the end of the day, they’re a bunch of children whose lives are constantly in danger.

And don’t even get me started on some of the other characters, like Flo Bones and Inspector Barnes and all the other ghost-hunting agents.

The Writing:

I’ll admit that I’m a little biased here – I read the first book in the Bartimaeus Sequence, The Amulet of Samarkand, when I was 13, and I’ve been a fan of Jonathan Stroud every since. But there’s something so darn charming and addictive about the Lockwood series that I’ve spent the past five years devouring each installment days after its release, and then moping around wishing I had the next one. But now the series is done, and I don’t actually know what I’m going to do!

Stroud manages to get into Lucy’s head in a way that makes her feel real – despite being a man writing for girl’s perspective, she feels authentic and it’s interesting to see the way she develops over the years (and books). His writing is also infused with humour – whether it’s poking fun at George’s gross habits or the Skull teasing Lucy for having a crush on Lockwood – which gives the books a little bit of lightness in between all the spine-tingling hauntings that the teens have to deal with (because yeah, sometimes their cases scare me).

The Bottom Line:

I love this series so much, I almost cried when I finished reading The Empty Grave (I 100% teared up while reading it), and more than anything, I desperately want to re-read them just so I can experience the magic and mischief of Lockwood and Co all over again.

The Soundtrack:

Like Lockwood and Co, Creeper comes across as scary but is actually multi-layered (and only a little frightening). Hailing from Southampton, UK, the “horror punk” band has a scary aesthetic, but surprisingly boppy songs.

I didn’t pick any of their dancier songs, though. Instead, I went with “Room 309”, which specifically mentions ghosts and has a frenetic energy (that percussion!) that gets your heart racing the same way a malevolent spirit might (or so I think). I also like the way the two vocalists – Will Gould and Hannah Greenwood – work together (like Lockwood and Lucy!) to create a spine-tingling final verse.

I’ve been a man, now a ghost
Two of the things that you fear most
Now is the end of this journey, what’s left for me?

Book Review: The First Rule of Punk

The First Rule of Punk

Celia C. Pérez
Release date: August 22, 2017

Rating 5/5

The First Line:

Dad says punk rock only comes in one volume: loud.

The Plot:

Twelve year old Maria Luisa (Malú to everyone except her mom) is distraught at having to move to Chicago for her mom’s new job. Not only does it mean she’s hours away from her punk rock loving dad and his cool record store, but she has to start a new school.

Within her first day, Malú manages to violate the dress code and get on the popular girl’s bad side – just by being herself. Her mother aka SuperMexican wants her to be a little “senorita”, but Malú is more interested in wearing Ramones t-shirts instead of dresses, and making zines instead of learning about her culture.

When the school’s talent show rolls around, Malú has the brilliant idea of starting a punk band with a group of misfit students – none of whom know how to play an instrument. After the principal shuns their contribution, Malú – like a true punk – fights for her right to rock.

The Characters:

First of all, Malú is adorable (but don’t tell her I said that). I throw the word “relatable” around a lot, but she really is relatable – whether it’s something like her hatred of cilantro (same, girl, same), or the way she identifies more with her American half than her Mexican half (side note: I’ve heard “coconut” being used for “white-washed” brown people (y’know, like me), but didn’t realize that Hispanics heard the same thing), or even the anger and angst that comes with being a twelve year old girl. She’s a real girl, full of flaws and insecurities, and a dash of melodrama, but that makes her easy to understand – from an adult perspective, anyway. I hope that actual middle-grade readers feel the same way about her, because I think Perez did a fantastic job of making Malu a fleshed out character.

The other children are just as great: Joe, Malú’s partner in crime whose mom slowly becomes Malú’s heroine; Ellie, the activist who learns how to play drums just to prove she can; and Benny with the trumpet (who is probably the least developed but still has personality). Even Malú’s nemesis, the perfect “senorita” Selena, has a big personality and her own mini story line.

At times, Malú’s relationships with her parents – especially her mom – can be frustrating, but only because they’re so realistic. Malú has always gotten along better with her dad, but with the (literal) distance between them and her burgeoning adolescence, their relationship undergoes some strain. And while her mother doesn’t really understand her, they eventually come to an agreement. It’s not all sunshine though because Malú is 12 and bound to get mad over the smallest things – and that’s okay!

The Writing:

I loved that Pérez sporadically included some of Malú’s zines at the ends of chapters – not only did it make me wish I could cut in a straight line so that I could create my own zines, but it gave us insight into Malú’s character and personality without overly long descriptions. It also helped move the story along quickly.

Without dwelling too long on diversity and the importance of #ownvoices stories (which is actually something I talk about A LOT in my daily life), I’d like to express how utterly delightful it is to find a narrative – especially one that’s been getting a lot of attention – where the protagonist is mixed race (at least,I assume her dad is white, I can’t remember if she specifies it). Pérez works Mexican culture, history, and traditions into Malú’s story so deftly, it feels completely organic and the reader learns right alongside Malú as she, somewhat reluctantly, discovers more about her heritage. The only downside is that I desperately wanted Mexican food once I was done (but that’s a fairly common emotion for me).

The Bottom Line:

I think you can tell that I was super into this book – I’ve already mentioned it to 2/3 of my nieces (who happen to be in the middle grade age range…their youngest sister is going to have to wait a few years). So yeah, this gets a big old recommendation from me.

The Soundtrack:

Pérez actually mentions a lot of music throughout The First Rule of Punk, from heavy hitters like The Ramones to Mexican punks like The Zeroes. But since I’m more pop-punk than punk-rock (sorry, Malú), I decided to find a song from my own playlists that fit.

After much consideration, I finally settled on a Fall Out Boy song, “Young Volcanoes”. Originally, I was thinking Knuckle Puck’s “Swing” because a) Knuckle Puck (like FOB) is from Chicago and b) it’s one of my faves. I thought it would tie in nicely with Malú’s angst, but I realized there’s a lot more hope and happiness in the book than straight-up angst. “Young Volcanoes” is about being young and taking risks, going after what we want instead of settling for something that makes us unhappy. The quest to be true to oneself is a huge theme in The First Rule of Punk and FOB captures that feeling perfectly. Plus, I love the idea of Malú and the CoCo’s flailing around to this song in Mrs. Hidalgo’s basement.

We are wild
We are like young volcanoes
We are wild
Americana, exotica
Do you wanna feel a little beautiful, baby?