The Day Before

Since I heard about its release back in January I could hardly wait for the release of Lisa Schroeder's latest, The Day Before. Right now is one of the busiest parts of my summer as I am finishing up papers for one of my summer school classes, but this afternoon I decided to treat myself to reading The Day Before in one sitting. After all, that's the only way to read Schroeder's novels in verse for the first time!

The building anticipation was all worth it. Set in Oregon (one more thing to love about it), the novel intermixes glimpses into the lives of Amber and Cade the day before both of their lives are on the verge of something very different, very terrifying.

Meeting by chance on the day they both needed to be alone and process, they were drawn to each other and realized that maybe the day was better spent with a stranger than alone.

Click by click on my Kindle, pieces to the puzzle clicked into place. Along with Amber, I just wanted to know that Cade was going to be okay, as well as wanting to know what was going on with Amber.

There's not much more I can say about the novel without giving too much away, other than saying both characters have dynamic stories that end up weaving together beautifully.

On a side note, it was especially fun for me to read because it was mainly all set at Newport, Oregon where I just went with my 8th graders for part of our field trip, so I could picture some of their experiences - especially the touch tanks, salt water taffy, and watching the sea otters. Reading about the chowder in Mo's made me wish that we had gone there to eat since it is part of the Newport experience.

Can't wait for her next novel in verse or to see my students around town to tell them they have to read this book!

Unwind

Today I will be meeting with a couple of my colleagues for our book club that one of the teachers at my school started this year. This was the first book club where I was able to choose the book, and I decided to show Amazon information sheets about a variety of books I wanted to read from a range of genres and age ranges, including The Help, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and Unaccustomed Earth. I remember I had another YA dystopian novel in there, but I can't remember which. Out of the set, my colleagues were most intrigued by Neal Shusterman's Unwind. It's not hard to see why, as the book talk that a guest librarian gave about it to my YA Lit class last summer stuck with me throughout the school year.

Dystopian novels always have elements that are disturbing, but this one was especially high on that scale the further into the book I read. The premise of the book is that the country fought another war to determine whether or not abortion should be legal. Neither side won per se, but they did come to an agreement. Abortion was illegal but with scientific advances parents could decide whether or not to unwind their children once they reached a specific age range, most of their teenage years, which entails harvesting all the unwind's body parts to donate to other people. The society rationalized it saying that they were not killing people, as they continued to live on in a divided state.

Needless to say this decision had a domino effect of impacts on society, and many layers are revealed throughout the book. Told from third person point of view, the novel alternates between focal characters or groups in its chapters. There was a lot going on, so it was necessary to think of the whole picture and all the little details, many of which ended up having significant importance as the book progressed, even when they seemed less important at their initial mention. Characters' stories merged together and branched off on their own in various cycles. Some perspectives were only mentioned once, while others came up frequently throughout the novel.

There is so much I want to say about this book; yet, I don't want to go too far into it since it would spoil certain aspects. The various layers are entrenched in the culture as well as the interwoven nature of the stories that it is hard to talk about aspects and scenes that evoked strong emotions without providing more details about the society and context. One thing is for sure, this book will provide ample avenues for discussion today! I am glad that it is one that I will get to discuss with others who have already finished it so that I can share my thoughts without spoiling anything, and I can't wait to hear what they thought of the book as well.

The guest librarian at my class last summer highly recommended all Shusterman novels. Eventually I would like to read more, and it seems like he has a wide range of choices.

For July we will be reading another YA book, Ender's Game. In August we are planning on moving on to a classic.

Wither

Wither is one of those books that originally caught my attention as I was skimming the 2011 debut books, and since then I keep on hearing nothing but good things about it. I could not resist buying the Kindle version, and I finally had a chance to read it.

In the dystopian novel Rhine's reality is completely different than today as the society is divided between "first generations" and everyone else after scientists attempted to use genetic engineering to relieve humans of illness. While it seemed to work with the first generation, who live long, long lives, their children all start to contract a disease and die at age 20 for females and age 25 for males. Scientists are in a flurry to find an antidote and save their children and grandchildren, while also trying to encourage (sometimes force) them to have babies at a young age in order to ensure the continuation of the human race.

The disasters brought on by this scenario cause many societal issues, such as poverty and a high number of orphans (since their parents die when they are very young). Rhine and her twin brother were fortunate enough to be children of "first generations", but when tragedy strikes, they fend for themselves and struggle to support each other. Unfortunately one of Rhine's attempts to earn some extra money ends up being a trap and she is abducted to become the wife of a rich first generation's son in Florida. Trapped in the mansion, Rhine lives through many horrors as well as conflicting emotions. Though she is held captive, she often surprises herself with emotions toward her "husband". And then there's the servant Gabriel who provides solace in such miserable circumstances.

As if that was not enough, the complexities of the society also involve polygamous marriages so Rhine not only watches her husband's first wife die from the disease, but two other young girls were also abducted with her and get married on the same day to a man they have barely met!

Filled with danger, suspense, confusion, and at times hope, the array of characters provide for many layers and dimensions. I read with my stomach in knots wondering what was going to happen next to the various characters.

One aspect of Kindle editions is that I often don't get a good look at the cover. When I was just looking at it on-line, I noticed how it said, "A Chemical Garden Trilogy". When I was reading it, I had not realized it was part of a trilogy. Now, I am so excited that I will be able to read more about the story. Though there was a good sense of resolution to this book (albeit more on the open side of a satisfying conclusion), and it could have been a stand alone, I am thrilled that there will be more because there is plenty that I was wondering about still! So many possibilities for twists and turns in the plot.

This book fits in well with so many other books I have been reading in 2011, not in the sense that it is very similar because it is definitely unique, but because different aspects complement other books. For example, the onset of a new disease, resulting in a shifting role for young women reminds me of another 2011 debut, Bumped, while the aspects of the negative impact of experimenting too much with humans relates to The Gardener. Rhine's unique eyes remind me of Willow's in Crush Control. The polygamy and manipulation aspects tie in with Family. Just like Drought, it has a suspenseful romance. So many interesting connections and layers for discussion.

Lauren DeSteno's debut is definitely gripping, and I cannot wait for more. I just had to look around on the author's site to see if it had any mentions of when to expect the second, and it looks like it will be out in February of 2012 - what a treat!

*Book 8/12 for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Crush Control Blog Tour Q & A

I recently posted my thoughts on Crush Control. Now I am happy to post a question and answer with author Jennifer Jabaley. I enjoyed hearing more about Jennifer's process as a writer!


Q: I always love to hear the background behind books, such as what inspired them. For example, while reading Crush Control, I was wondering if someone you know has unique eyes just like Willow since I noticed that you are also an optometrist. I was also wondering whether A Midsummer Night's Dream inspired the plot or if it was more of a natural fit after you had already thought of your idea. I love it when books weave in plots from other literature that in some ways mirrors what is happening in the book. Can you share a little about the process of how Crush Control came together?

A: Yes, I am an optometrist and I have seen patients that have unique eyes like Willow's.  The clinical term is 'coloboma' and it is when the iris is mishaped and leaves a keyhole shaped pupil.  I did have one patient who was very much bothered by the appearance of her eyes and I wound up fitting her in colored contacts to masquerade the appearance of the pupils. But sshhh! don't tell Willow there's a way to hide it :)

When I was originally discussing the idea for CRUSH CONTROL with my editor, I said something of the effect of using hypnosis 'sort of like a love potion' and my editor said that it reminded her of MSND.  And honestly, I barely remembered the plot to that play so right after hanging up, I went online and started researching MSND. Immediately I recognized the opportunity to use Shakespeare's play as the perfect backdrop and inspiration of sorts for Willow's use of hypnosis. So I began to weave the English assignment throughout the plot to use the Shakespeare play as a dangling inspiration for Willow.  Naturally, she didn't look to the chaos in MSND to realize chaos would ensue in her life as well!!  I'm glad you liked it!

Q: When reading Crush Control I appreciated that characters did not necessarily fit into their stereotypical roles, which was refreshing, making them seem all the more like individuals and developed characters. What have you found to be helpful when developing your characters?

A: Oh thank you, that's a nice compliment.  First and foremost, I try to make my characters fascinating.  If the characters are commonplace, the story gets boring.  I try and make the audience identify with the characters and I've found that most often, when I'm reading, I'm in tune with the character's desires and problems. For a teenage audience I think most all can identify with the need of wanting to belong, of wanting to be loved and of finding their place in the world.

Q: One of my other blogs focuses on trying to find balance between different roles. I noticed that your site talks about trying to "manage optometry, writing and motherhood". What advice do you have for other writers trying to carve out time for writing - whether it is adults balancing careers and motherhood or younger writers balancing school and extracurricular activities?

A: You know, for me, the majority of 'writing' happens in my head. What I mean by this is ideas inspire and plots come together while I'm playing at the park with my kids.  Or characters develop as I'm observing the behavior of patients at the office.  So by the time I do have that precious hour or two to get down my thoughts on paper, they pour out constructively.  I'm hardly ever staring at a blank sheet of paper/blank computer screen.  So my advice is take notice in things around you.  Scribble notes down when an idea strikes you.  Even though we are all so over-scheduled and over-booked, if we can carve out a small bit of time each day and have our thoughts ready to purge, you can manage to creatively accomplish your task little by little, day by day.

Q: Even though I have not written a book, I typically have ideas for different types of writing in my writer's notebook. I imagine that you have many thoughts running through your mind as well. Have you decided on (or are you already currently working on) your next writing project?

A: Right now I'm in discussion with my editor for my next project. Fingers crossed!!!

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog! I really appreciate it!

Arctic Thunder

Through Robert Feagan's Arctic Thunder, I caught glimpses of what life would be like in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Though the novel is told in third person, we see the events through the main character Mike's lens as he discovers that he will be moving, not only leaving behind all of his friends, but also his favorite sport lacrosse. While it takes time, Mike eventually starts to realize that there are advantages to his new surroundings and the people who live there.

I always love reading books involving sports and teamwork, sometimes even more so when it is an unfamiliar sport for me, which was definitely the case with lacrosse in this book. As Mike was teaching some aspects of the game to his new friends, I realized how I would have been just as clueless in the same circumstance, helping me to relate and laugh even more as they were surprised about certain aspects of the game. As a special bonus, I was also able to learn about traditional "Arctic Sports" that I had never even heard of before.

Nonetheless, sports was not the sole focus of the book. There were also significant explorations of cultural identity and getting to know and understand others. In addition, there was also a little bit of romance, which led to at least one hilarious moment.

*Review copy provided