The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green
Dutton Juvenile
Published January 10, 2012

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

The Review

After reading all the fantastic reviews of The Fault in Our Stars, John Green’s eagerly anticipated fourth novel, I have been struggling to decide what I could possibly add to all the wonderful insights. First, I have to concur with a great majority of the reviewers: this is not a “cancer book” or is it even necessarily a book about cancer. Certainly Hazel thinks about cancer: her cancer Augustus Waters’s cancer, her friend Isaac’s cancer, and even the protagonist from her favorite (and purely fictional) novel, Anna’s, cancer. But trying to pigeonhole this novel with the label “Cancer Book” is akin to calling a child with cancer a “Cancer Kid” (or even, as Hazel would say, ”An Inspiration to Us All”). The truth is far more complex and thought-provoking than any label would allow.

And complexity is one of the most fabulous things about this novel–mostly because, at first glance, the novel doesn’t appear all that complicated. Hazel’s narration of events is very straightforward, almost no-nonsense, though she still retains a very sharp sense of humor. She states the facts of life as she sees them, no matter if they are pleasant or sad or inconvenient. She is also upfront with her emotions, especially romantic ones regarding Augustus Waters. Readers will no doubt find her candidness a nice change from the usual hemming and hawing plaguing female protagonists in the teen lit scene.

However, Hazel’s forthright manner is not an indication of simplicity of thought. Anyone familiar with Green’s work knows that his characters tend to wax a little philosophical, and Hazel is no exception. Drawing on a very high level of vocabulary and grammar (and a few references to philosophers like Kierkegaard), Hazel confronts readers with some very profound questions about life, death, family, and what it means to interact with a world that soon won’t have you in it.

My only complaint? Every so often Hazel’s thoughts, as brilliant and deep as they are, felt a bit masculine. This may be solely from the fact that I was aware that the author was male, but it was disruptive nonetheless.

The Rating

Readability:         
Originality:           
Believability:        
Thematic Quality:
Connectability:     

Overall Rating:

The Recommendation

Although written for teens, this book will be appreciated by an adult readership too. Be prepared for nerdy moments and some tears.

I think this quote sums it up:

Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, “Morris Lessmore” is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story.

Enjoy!

Plans are also in the works for an Android version, which should be released later this year.

This app sounds pretty awesome to me. Makes me wish I owned an iPhone…

Read more about this app at the YALSA Web site or Library Journal.

Two high school, possibly college-age boys pop into the lovely bookstore where I work. As they head toward the second floor, they are complaining loudly about how much they detest their English class.

“I hate Pride and Prejudice,” says one to the other. “It’s effing boring.”

“Yeah,” his friend replies. “Shakespeare’s stupid.”

…oh…my…. There are no words to describe my despair.

It’s times like these I enjoy revisiting the condescending literary pun dog. He just makes me feel better.

The Book

The Monstrumologist
By Rick Yancey
Simon & Schuster
Published September 22, 2009

So begins the journal of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

Critically acclaimed author Rick Yancey has written a gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does a man become the very thing he hunts?

The Review

I know this book wasn’t in my review queue, but since I was having all sorts of shipping troubles trying to get my hands on my signed copy of Green’s The Fault in Our Stars I decided to pick up another book in the interim–and an award honoree no less.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey was a Printz award honor book back in 2010 and for excellent reason: this book is as fantastic as it is creepy. Told through the journals of a old man looking back on his time as the twelve-year-old assistant of a world-renowned monstrumologoist (for def. see description above), the story follows Will Henry as he and Dr. Pellinore Warthrop set out on a search and destroy mission to rid a quiet 19th century village of murderous man-eating monsters, the Anthropophagi. What on the surface appears to be a straightforward quest, however, quickly becomes a very twisted path as the deepest depths of the doctor’s past are brought to light–and both Will Henry and the doctor begin to doubt the humanity of the person they had trusted most.

I love many things about this book, but the thing that stands out the most is how intricately Yancey draws the characters of Will Henry and the doctor. To say these characters are fully fleshed out is a bit of an understatement. Just as with real people, the characters are full of contradicting motivations and sentiments. The doctor in particular is a struggle to pin down. Determined to be the “modern scientific man” as he father was, the doctor often sacrifices his more human inclinations. He is not affectionate toward Will Henry. He is distant and imposing and often argues with Will Henry as if he were an adult, then becoming frustrated when the twelve-year-old cannot hold his own. Yet for all these flaws, the doctor is a likeable character. It is clear he cares for Will Henry, even if the mode of that love’s expression is unorthodox (he, for instance, tells Will Henry he will shoot him in the head rather than let him suffer an agonizing death at the hands of the Anthropophagi–naturally Will Henry is taken aback at this notion).

The doctor also has strong moral convictions–he is disgusted at the mistreatment of the inmates at the insane asylum–a stark contrast against the charismatic John Kearns, a British gentleman of dubious origin that the doctor brings in to assist with the hunt. Kearns, who prides himself on following the “morality of the moment” (i.e. eat or be eaten), is one of those truly frightening characters in literature because, on the surface, he seems so dashing. He’s confident, well-spoken, and a natural leader. Everyone–the doctor, Will Henry, the constable, the villagers, the readers–wants to follow him. They want to believe he has all the answers. And he does, to an extent. They just aren’t pretty (or ethical) answers.

Which is how Yancey is able to explore deeper themes in the book. Through the eyes of his expertly drawn characters, Yancey plumbs the depths of human character. He confronts young readers with moral dilemmas usually reserved for a college philosophy class. Is it better to sacrifice one for the survival of many? Can a person, or monster, be inherently evil? Or is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so?

The only downsides to the book are:

1. its use of advanced vocabulary and grammar (I know, what a downside…); some younger or less advanced readers may find it less accessible for this reason. And…

2. there are some truly disgusting scenes, most of them involving maggots; if you are prone to nightmares, like myself, please be aware you’ll be dreaming about this book for quite some time.

However, these downsides are extremely minor. Overall, I think it is an excellent book and definitely worth the read.

The Rating

Readability:         
Originality:           
Believability:        
Thematic Quality:
Connectability:     

Overall Rating:  (hurray, my first 5 star rating)

The Recommendation

A must read! Great language, creepy atmosphere, complex characters, awesome themes. Younger readers may need help along the way, but the challenge is well worth it.

And, if you get done with this book, there are two more in the series: The Curse of the Wendigo (which despite its silly title is supposed to better than the first) and The Isle of Blood. I can’t wait to read these two…I mean, too!

John Newberry Medal
Dead End in Norvelt
By Jack Gantos

Michael L. Printz Award
Where Things Come Back
By John Corey Whaley

Randolph Caldecott Medal
A Ball for Daisy
Written and illustrated by Chris Raschka

Other Awards:

• The Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults went to Susan Cooper (The Dark is Rising series–one of my favorites!)

• The Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults went to Rotters, written by Daniel Kruas and narrated by Kirby Heyborne.

• The William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens went to Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley.

For a complete list of the awards, winners, and honorees, please visit the ALA Web site.

Enjoy.

Visit Guy Laramee’s Web site for more awesome book carving–and his other art too!

McCoy also attempts to identify the new and upcoming trends in YA fiction, talking specifically of the emergence of “hybrids, or the blurring of the lines between genres,” and “character-driven novels, such as Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall (HarperCollins, 2010).” Like many others, she notes the decreased interest in the vampire-centric novel made popular by the Twilight series.

You can read her entire article here.

Most popular series

1. The Hunger Games (Scholastic) by Suzanne Collins

2. Twilight (Little, Brown) by Stephenie Meyer

3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Hyperion) by Rick Riordan

4. Wolves of Mercy Falls (Scholastic) by Maggie Stiefvater

5. The Maze Runner (Delacorte) by James Dashner

6. The Kane Chronicles (Hyperion) by Rick Riordan

7. Mortal Instruments (S & S) by Cassandra Clare

8. House of Night (St. Martin’s) by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams) by Jeff Kinney

10. Heroes of Olympus (Hyperion) by Rick Riordan

11. Matched (Dutton) by Ally Condie

12. Infernal Devices (S & S) by Cassandra Clare

13. Harry Potter (Scholastic) by J. K. Rowling

14. Dark Visions (S & S) by L. J. Smith

15. The Vampire Diaries (HarperTeen) by L. J. Smith

16. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte) by Michael Scott

17. The Leviathan Trilogy (S & S) by Scott Westerfeld

18. Conspiracy 365 (Kane/Miller) by Gabrielle Lord

19. Maximum Ride (Little, Brown) by James Patterson

20. Septimus Heap (HarperCollins) by Angie Sage

Most popular titles

1. Along for the Ride (Viking) by Sarah Dessen

2. Thirteen Reasons Why (Penguin) by Jay Asher

3. Burned (St. Martin’s) by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Quirk Bks.) by Ransom Riggs

5. Lock and Key (Viking) by Sarah Dessen

6. Crank (S & S) by Ellen Hopkins

7. The Book Thief (Knopf) by Markus Zusak

8. Looking for Alaska (Dutton) by John Green

9. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Little, Brown) by Stephenie Meyer

10. Monster (HarperCollins) by Walter Dean Myers

11. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Little, Brown) by Laini Taylor

12. Story of a Girl (Little, Brown) by Sara Zarr

13. Beautiful Creatures (Little, Brown) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

14. Identical (S & S) by Ellen Hopkins

15. Fallout (S & S) by Ellen Hopkins

16. Snitch (S & S) by Allison van Diepen

17. Num8ers (Scholastic) by Rachel Ward

18. After (Viking) by Amy Efaw

19. Legend (Putnam) by Marie Lu

20. L.A. Candy (HarperCollins) by Lauren Conrad