Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
In Bone Gap, Illinois there aren't any mountains or hill...there is nothing but gaps. For Finn, Bone Gap is the place where his mother left him behind and trapped his older brother, Sean, forever. Finn is known as the Space Man who never looks anyone in the face. The thing about Finn is that he isn't clueless or empty-headed: he just has a hard time remembering faces. When Roza was kidnapped, Finn saw the man who took her, but, for some reason, he couldn't remember his face. Although everyone blames Finn for being unable to identify Roza's kidnapper, he never stopped looking unlike Sean. Just when he was about to lose hope, Finn sees the same man who took Roza and, when he tries tell the sheriff and Sean, no one believes him except for Petey (aka. Priscilla). Finn has had feelings for Petey for a long time, but, when the black mare mysteriously showed up in his barn, the mare finally brought him and Petey together. The problem is that Petey is the only face he remembers, which is strange because he can't remember his own face. As Petey and Finn dive into their relationship, Roza is trying desperately to escape from the man that took her, but something strange is going on because one moment she is in a house with unbreakable windows and then a castle out of a fairytale. What exactly is going on in Bone Gap where a person can be taken away in an instant and faces become unforgettable. In this riveting story where reality shifts, Finn must find Roza before it's too late.  

Critical Evaluation:
I really did not expect this story to turn out the way it did. My first impression is that it's a typical young adult mystery, but it intertwines mystery, fantasy, suspense, and romance into a story where two people who were lost and found again. I really thought Finn was in love with Roza, but it's actually quite the opposite. Finn literally brought Roza into his world so it's only natural that he would be the one to bring her back home. Roza and Finn have this relationship that isn't based on romantic love, but on a different kind of love that two lost souls need to find their place in this world. As for Petey, the love that Finn feels for he isn't only genuine, but forces Petey to realize that he loves her for who she is and not what she looks like. Love is the underlying theme of this story because it was the loss of love that made Finn and Sean's mother leave, but it was the want and need for love that provided the happiness and hope that everyone needed. I really didn't know what to expect when I read this story, but I am happy I did! 

Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

Laura Ruby writes fiction for adults, teens and children. She is the author of the newly-released YA novel BONE GAP, as well as the Edgar-nominated children's mystery LILY'S GHOSTS, the ALA Quick Pick for teens GOOD GIRLS (2006), a collection of interconnected short stories about blended families for adults, I'M NOT JULIA ROBERTS (2007), and the forthcoming middle-grade trilogy YORK. She is on the faculty of Hamline University's Masters in Writing for Children Program. She makes her home in the Chicago area.

Genre:
Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Bone Gap:

• The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie MacLemore
• More Than This by Patrick Ness
• Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

“It’s a novel about actual changes in worldview, and all its science and myth and realism and magic are marshaled, finally, to answer crucial questions about empathy and difference, and the way we see people we love.” (New York Times Book Review)

“BONE GAP marks Laura Ruby as one of fiction’s most original voices. She is capable of moving you to tears, terrifying you on deep and dreamlike levels, and making your heart shout with happiness. This book is magic realism at its most magical.” (E. Lockhart, author of WE WERE LIARS)

“Ruby’s novel deserves to be read and reread. It is powerful, beautiful, extraordinary.” (SLJ)

“With rich characters, captivating world building, and a stunning secret at its heart, BONE GAP is utterly bewitching.” (ALA Booklist (starred review))

“Cleverly conceived, and lusciously written.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

“The real magic in Bone Gap is the discovery of love, an idea many stories misrepresent but Bone Gap explores with the utmost honesty and truth.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review)) 

Plot Summary:
Mare is a Red and Reds are subservient to the Silvers. In Mare's world, if a Red does not find work he or she is conscripted into the army and sentenced to death on the battlefields. Mare is near her 18th birthday and all she can do is steal what she can to help her family. With all of her brothers in the military, the only one who has the talent to escape conscription is her younger sister Gisa. Although Mare is aware of her fate, she is biding her time with her best friend who has able to land a trade. However, when she learns that he lost his job before it began, Mare searches for someone who can help him escape conscription, but it's going to cost. While desperately searching for money to buy her best friend's freedom, she tries to steal from a stranger who, inadvertently, will become her savior, especially when the Scarlet Army strikes and Mare is captured and taken to the castle against her will. While at the castle, Mare witnesses the strength of the Silvers and, when she faces a fierce opponent, Mare releases a power she didn't know she had and neither did the royal family. In this tale of mystery, action, and romance, an ordinary girl learns that she is not only the key to changing her future, but her heart is torn in two between two boys who she can never be with.  

Critical Evaluation:
I will say that it took me a second to get into this story because the plot is similar to other stories I have read such as the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. Despite these similarities, I soldiered on and I finally got into the stories towards the end of the book with a plot twist that made things interesting. Since this is a trilogy, there isn't a whole lot of character development, but the villains are absolutely fantastic! The Queen and Evangeline are absolutely terrifying and awful. As for Maven, I really got attached to him so I am still holding out for him to be the hero.  After finishing the story, I am a little curious to see what the next step is especially now that Shade, her elder brother, is back. Other than that, I wasn't completely blown away the story other then the fact that Silvers are almost mutant-esque and the Mare is a higher breed of mutant. I will say that there is plenty of action and the love story arch is actually a minor arc, which is nice since a lot of teen fantasy needs the love arc to attract readers. With that said, this would actually be a good title for guys and girls to read if they can get past the cover of the book. All in all, I would recommend this book to any reader who likes these types of fantasy stories.

Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

I’m a writer repped by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. I split my time between my hometown East Longmeadow, Massachusetts and Los Angeles. After graduating with a BFA in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California, I decided to try my hand at writing a novel. My debut RED QUEEN came out of the terrifying, unemployed year after college.

Currently I’m revising the second book in the RED QUEEN series, along with pursuing other projects in literature and film. My proudest achievements are riding a horse in the mountains of Montana and navigating from London to Edinburgh without GPS.

Genre:
Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 8 & up

 Books Similar to The Red Queen:

• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
• Red Rising by Pierce Brown
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

“A sizzling, imaginative thriller, where romance and revolution collide, where power and justice duel. It’s exhilarating. Compelling. Action-packed. Unputdownable.” (USA Today)

“Aveyard weaves a compelling new world of action-packed surprises... inventive, character-driven.” (Kirkus)

“A volatile world with a dynamic heroine.” (Booklist)

“Breakneck pace and engaging characters.” (School Library Journal)

“ [Aveyard] sets her audience up for a gaspworthy twist that reconfigures nearly every character’s role and leaves Mare with no one to trust but herself... This blend of fantasy and dystopia will be an unexpected and worthy addition to many genre fans’ reading list.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)

“Fascinating world building... Readers will be intrigued by a world that reflects today’s troubling issues concerning ethnic inequality, unfair distribution of wealth, pollution, warfare, political corruption, and the frightening power of the media.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)) 

Plot Summary:
Caden Bosch is caught between two worlds. In one world, he is part of crew led by a captain obsessed with the Marinas trench (aka Challenger Deep). In the other world, he is a teenager who can't sit still and unable to shake the idea that someone is trying to kill him. Whether he is conversing with a the treasonous parrot that would do everything to overthrow the captain of the ship, or walking at all hours of the day around the neighborhood, Caden can't escape the feeling that he is trapped and has no way to escape. As Caden gets to know his fellow shipmates, he realizes that he has met these people before and, when he alienates his friends at home, he realizes that something is going on and he has to find out why everyone is abandoning him. As time goes by, the fear and the dread becomes more real especially when he is appointed cartographer by the captain AND learns that the ship, itself, is alive and wants to know everything that happens on board. The closer they get to Challenger Deep, the more treacherous the journey has become. Moreover, Caden's parents have  become increasingly concerned with the fact that he hasn't been honest about his whereabouts and his overall behavior. Just when he thinks he has found a way out, Caden is suddenly captured and taken to a place he doesn't want to be. Fortunately, for Caden, this place not only helps him decipher the mystery behind his mission to Challenger Deep, but to figure out if someone is out to get him. In this gripping story about one boy's struggle with his own mind, readers will see how fragile we are and how we need to recognize that certain behaviors need to be addressed in order to help those we love and care about. Bravo, Neal Schusterman for winning the 2015 National Book Award!  

Critical Evaluation:
As a librarian, youth advocate, and reader, I cannot express how necessary and needed this book is. Not only is time for a real discussion about mental illness, it is time to take a stand and help young people recognize the signs and symptoms and understand that there is no shame in asking for help. For Caden, schizophrenia is so powerful that it not only clouded his judgement, but it almost destroyed him when he decided to go down Challenger's Deep. What saved Caden is that his parents noticed how disconnected he was and decided to place him in the care of professionals who know how to treat this illness. Not only is Schusterman spot on with his descriptions of Caden's treatment, he provides three point of views that include: Caden's delusion, reality, and his family's helplessness. What most people don't realize about mental illness is that it affects not just one person, but that person's support system. As reader's read about Caden and his battle, they not only see the ugliness of mental illness, but they will also see the power of Caden's spirit, especially when soars out of Challenger Deep and back into the arms of those he loves. Anything is possible when we find the strength to overcome the darkness within us by asking, and accepting, help from those around us. This is such a powerful story that will bring reader's to tears, but it will also provide hope that if we are stricken with mental illness we can defy the call to Challenger Deep by choosing to ignore the call. If not, knowing that we can get the help we need to by recognizing the signs and telling someone.

Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.

In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal’s talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently played in several major cities. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful “How to Host a Mystery” game for teens, as well as seven “How to Host a Murder” games.

As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the “Goosebumps” and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is developing an original TV series with his son, Jarrod, and adapting Tesla’s Attic with co-writer Eric Elfman for TV as well.

Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers — such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal’s novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.

 
Genre:
 Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen Issues

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Challenger Deep:

• Inside Out by Terry Trueman
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

“A brilliant journey across the dark sea of mental illness; frightening, sensitive, and powerful. Simply extraordinary.” (Laurie Halse Anderson, award-winning author of Speak)

“Haunting, unforgettable, and life-affirming all at once.” (Booklist (starred review))

“An adventure in perspective as well as plot, this unusual foray into schizophrenia should leave readers with a deeper understanding of the condition.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

“Clearly written with love, the novel is moving; but it’s also funny, with dry, insightful humor. Illustrations by the author’s son Brendan, drawn during his own time in the depths of mental illness, haunt the story with scrambling, rambling lines, tremulousness, and intensity.” (Horn Book (starred review))

“Teens, especially fans of the author’s other novels, will enjoy this book. VERDICT This affecting deep dive into the mind of a schizophrenic will captivate readers, engender empathy for those with mental illnesses, and offer much fodder for discussion.” (School Library Journal (starred review))

“A powerful collaboration...[Caden’s] story turns symptoms into lived reality in ways readers won’t easily forget.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review))

“A thoroughly realistic story...Both male and female readers will find this compelling while acquiring a deeper compassion and understanding. ” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA))

“Shusterman does a masterful job...The intensity of living inside Caden’s mind makes this a wrenching read.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review))