YA Archives - The Pencil Princess Workshop

Jade City

I’ve been meaning to read Jade City for a while, and I don’t know what took me so long.

Once I finally got into it, I found this book totally lived up to its hype. It’s a brilliant story, with intricate plotting and rich world-building

The real stars, though, are the characters. My favorite is Kaul Shaelinsan, the prodigal daughter returned to her hometown to lick her wounds and try not to get caught up in the family business. But I also love her brothers, and her cousin. And the dozens of minor characters who fill out this magical city-state.

If you like young adult fantasy, or martial arts, or stories about crime syndicates, or just a wonderful story well-told, I’d recommend Jade City. (And if you don’t like any of those things, why are you reading book reviews?)

The Kingdom of Back

Marie Lu’s The Kingdom of Back surprises with its mix of fantasy and historical fiction. I expected a fantasy, but at first, got nothing but a tale of Mozart’s forgotten sister.

As a historical tale, this story immerses me in a world of rich detail, patriarchy, ambition, and music. Then, just when I’m comfortable, fantasy seeps in. It infuses the story, seeping into the everyday world in a magical realist style.

So, not quite what I expected–but so much better. I love Nannerl. I’ve never quite connected to music the way she does, but I relate to her ambition and the complicated feelings she has about her brother and her brother’s talent. This story is epic–both in the realm of music (with genius rising, getting squelched and sometimes getting stolen) and in the Kingdom of Back (where Nannerl fights monsters that are not always exactly what they seem).

I’d strongly recommend this book for anyone who likes fantasy, magical realism, historical fiction, or stories about women in the arts. I may even try picking up a physical copy for myself (and I don’t like books that much very often. I did feel that way about this one, too.)

Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun, as you probably already know, is the latest book in the Twilight series. It covers much of the same ground as the original books–but from Edward’s point of view.

I admit I liked it, but that might be at least partly nostalgia. Still, some of Edward’s behavior feels a bit more comprehensible after reading this. I still feel like he’s annoyingly overprotective, and more into the Bella in his brain than the Bella who actually exists. (If a character in a book can be said to actually exist…. She does, right? At least for that story?) At any rate, I still find myself frustrated with Edward as a hero, but I understand him better than I did before. It’s an interesting exercise–taking the same story from different points of view. And fun to read.

Midnight Sun is enjoyable, and though I didn’t love it, I liked it quite a bit, and would recommend it for people who like YA fantasy, especially for those who enjoyed the original Twilight series. Like my Songs of Healing, it has a fairly modern setting. If you prefer your fantasy a bit medieval, maybe check out Adelaide and the Dragon Castle.

The Captain’s Boy

The Captain’s Boy is the newest release from one of my critique group members–Don Callaway.

This story follows a Pennsylvania farm boy from the period of the American Revolution. When Isaiah and his father return from a supply-gathering trip, they find that Hessians have looted and burned their farm.

With the rest of the family dead, Isaiah’s grief-stricken father throws himself into a quest for revenge. Though physically with his father, Isaiah must handle his own grief alone. He also must find his own way through his grief and the process of becoming a man in this new war-torn world.

The historical detail is wonderful. I particularly enjoy seeing how everyday tasks in that time were handled. It reminds me a bit of the Little House books in that way.

This is a good story that I recommend, especially for readers who enjoy historical fiction or coming of age stories. You can purchase your own copy here. Like historical books? I’d also recommend Boxers and Saints, and Sarah, Plain and Tall.

If you love me, call me Dorrie

This is a nostalgic read for me…a book that someone gave me when I was in late elementary school.

It love the characters here, and the Parent-trap like machinations of the teens are both funny and heartwarming.

I loved and still love the way Dorrie finds her place in her family and gets to stability, even if it’s not exactly the way she envisions it. And though there are preachy moments in here they aren’t completely cringe-worthy.

This is a book I go back to from time to time–a comfort read when the world has gone crazy. Do you have any nostalgia reads like this?

Fran, the Second Time Around

Fran is starting over at a new school because of some tragedy in her past, and at first we’re not sure what that is, but we can see that it’s affecting everything about Fran.

I love the voice here, and I love the way that Fran struggles to move past her problems, but I’m not thrilled with how long it takes to learn what those problems truly are.

I also felt that there were some unresolved issues left hanging at the end of the story–issues related to her mother’s mental health, for example. And I’m not sure that Fran has truly come to a place of peace, though she seems to be on her way there.

But on the whole, this was a good book with strong character development, and I’d recommend it for people who like realistic young adult stories.

Binti

I picked this up from the library after a friend recommended it on Goodreads, and it’s every bit as good as she said it was. I’m probably going to want to get a copy of my own of this stunning little gem at some point.

When Binti leaves home to attend university off-world, her traditional family and people don’t approve. They say she’s selfish. That she’s ruining her future. That the university will separate her from her culture.

Binti goes anyway, lured by the promise of sinking into the mathematics that give her unique abilities to concentrate and communicate.

She doesn’t expect those abilities to become quite so critically important as they do. Her very survival depends on them, and that process of survival changes her in ways even her family couldn’t have predicted.

This is a fabulous story that explores (in an edge-of-the-seat danger kind of way, not a preachy way) what it means to leave home, and what it takes to keep some of home with you.

Opposite of Always

I enjoyed this fun, romantic YA, though it reminded me a bit more of Groundhog’s Day than I would prefer. (Yeah, I was never that fond of that movie.)

Still, Jack is a great character, and I love how he grows throughout this book, figuring out what is important to him.

Kate is also a well-rounded character, and I love that she refuses to be defined by her illness.

My favorite part of the book, though, might have been Jack’s friendships with Jillian and Franny, and how he (eventually) figures out how to not let his budding romance keep him from being a good friend.

I also appreciate the family dynamics here–there’s a couple of mostly functional families, and a few that are less functional–but all of them feel realistic and important to the kids in them.

All in all, a book well worth reading.

Charlie Franks is A-OK

Charlie’s not like Coco.

So, when everything seems to be going wrong, she’s determined not to be a drama queen. But keeping all her frustrations inside turns out to be a less than perfect plan.

I like how Charlie insists on being herself, and love how she comes to evaluate what’s most important to her. I kind of wish, though, that at some point she’d let somebody close to her know how she was really feeling. At the end of this book, it seems like Charlie is just as likely to keep unpopular opinions to herself as she was at the beginning, and that feels a bit isolating and confining–as if she’s only allowing herself to feel things she’s supposed to feel .

Restraint can be both wise and kind, but repression?

This story raises some interesting questions–a kind of Sense and Sensibility for a modern era.

I’m just not sure Charlie’s central problem (which I saw as her unwillingness to be open with the people around her, even those who clearly loved her) is as resolved as she thinks it is.

Check out my review of the previous book in the series, Love and Muddy Puddles (about Coco) here.

Love and Muddy Puddles

I don’t quite relate to Coco Franks’s quest to be popular, but I totally get what it’s like to have your parents tell you you’re moving away from the life you know, and your feelings about it don’t matter.

Of course, my parents never moved me anywhere quite so remote or primitive. We always (always!) had running water.

I never before realized how lucky I was.

This is a fun book, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I cringe every time Coco makes more trouble for herself, but in my heart, I get it. Sometimes life is grossly unfair and lashing out feels like the only way to get people to pay attention to what you’re feeling. Even if the only person that hurts is yourself.

Link to the book here, if you’re interested: https://smile.amazon.com/Muddy-Puddles-Charlie-Franks-novel-ebook/dp/B00HOCA7D2/