Tag Archives: YA fiction

Scott Mebus’s Gods of Manhattan

In this post-Potter world, more authors than ever seem attracted to writing for adolescents. And given the acclaim and success J.K. Rowling has achieved — including the great wealth now enjoyed by the previously struggling author — why wouldn’t more … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Scott Mebus’s Gods of Manhattan

Jessica Reisman’s The Z Radiant

I’m torn. I don’t want to begin a discussion of author Jessica Reisman‘s wonderful debut novel by opening with the least appealing aspect. But I’m afraid I have no choice. This thing is so huge, and it’s the very first … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on Jessica Reisman’s The Z Radiant

David Stahler Jr.’s Truesight

In one of my favourite books as a youth (well, as a pre-teen, really), Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time, Meg, the main character, attempts to describe the sense of sight to Aunt Beast, an alien creature born without it. … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on David Stahler Jr.’s Truesight

Perry Moore’s Hero

Perry Moore’s debut novel Hero is at its base a coming-of-age story. In first-person narrative, we’re told the details of Thom Creed’s teenage existence. Thom has trouble relating to his father. Thom has trouble relating to his peers, to school, … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Perry Moore’s Hero

Isabel Allende’s City of the Beasts

Tabatha Yeatts submitted this review. In City of the Beasts – a magic realism novel for young adults – Isabel Allende takes Alexander Cold, a fifteen-year-old Californian, on an adventure deep into the Amazon. While Alex’s mother is fighting cancer … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on Isabel Allende’s City of the Beasts

Steve Augarde’s The Various

Steve Augarde is a well-known British illustrator and author of children’s books. The Various, the first in a series, treats the adventures of twelve-year-old Midge, sent to stay with her Uncle Brian at the old family farm in Somerset while … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on Steve Augarde’s The Various

Tanith Lee’s Indigara

The idea of Tanith Lee writing juvenile/young adult fiction is one that stopped me for a moment. Lee was the “crown princess of fantasy” who appeared on the scene in the 1970s with dark, moody, lunar works such as Anackire, … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on Tanith Lee’s Indigara

Ursula K. LeGuin’s Gifts

The uplands of the Carrantages are a place of small holdings devoted to sheep herding, cattle, hunting, and farming, inhabited by families who all possess what they call “gifts.” The Barre gift is calling, mostly used to call game to … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ursula K. LeGuin’s Gifts

Esther Friesner’s Tempting Fate

It’s never any fun being different. Or is it? Ilana Newhouse feels out of place in her Conneticut hometown, and her attitude isn’t exactly winning over prospective summer employers. But things start to look up for her when she arrives … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , | Comments Off on Esther Friesner’s Tempting Fate

Maryrose Wood’s What I Wore To Save The World 

America’s a melting pot, or so it’s been said.  After a few generations though, things start getting hazy around the edges.  Tales of the Old Country start to fade from memory (if they were ever passed down at all), and … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Maryrose Wood’s What I Wore To Save The World