From Brian Selznick, the creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the Caldecott Medal winner, comes another breathtaking tour de force.
Set fifty years apart, two independent stories — Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures — weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.
Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost. At home with her father, Rose feels alone. He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who. She is searching for something, but she is not sure what. When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room, When a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose, Both children risk everything to find what's missing.
With over 460 pages of original drawings and playing with the form he invented in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful, Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.
I LOVE all things steampunk. And I LOVE anything by Scott Westerfeld. So when I laid my hands on Leviathan, the first of his steampunk-inspired, totally amazing series in the fall of 2009, I was smitten. Behemoth came out next, and this fall the conclusion to the series arrived in our little bookstore to much fanfare (mostly from me). Scoot over here to see my review of Goliath to get a feel of what this series is all about.
The good folks at Simon and Schuster Canada set me up with an interview with Scott Westerfeld and his thoughtful answers are reproduced below. It seems much more steampunk to use last names only so Scott is "Mr. Westerfeld", and I will be, um... "Mrs. Sommerfield -Smith" (oh, why not?) So, as they say, tie up your dirigible and stay awhile!
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: You’ve done an amazing job of creating a fascinating alternate WWI history in the Leviathan series. You create some great “what if” scenarios and divisions (Clankers vs. Darwinists, boys vs. girls (!)). In your afterword to Leviathan you mention that “the nature of steampunk is blending future and past” and that your series “is as much about possible futures as alternate pasts.” Could you elaborate on this?
Mr. Westerfeld: Steampunk is about messing with history, Victorian history in particular. It's about bringing a flame-thrower to a tea party, while still wearing an appropriate silk cravat. So it's not just a mix of future and past, but of refinement and mayhem.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: Why did you decide to give these novels a steampunk aesthetic? Where did you first encounter steampunk?
Mr. Westerfeld: My first steampunk experience was at Disney World. I was about eight years old, and went on the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. Something about a nuclear submarine with a pipe organ and baroque stylings really clicked with me. It's that strange mix of technologies and time periods that make certain people love steampunk.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: I’ve noticed steampunk appearing more and more in literature, but also movies and television. Neil Gaiman recently wrote an episode of Doctor Who that had a decidedly steampunk feel. Are there any TV shows with a steampunk look/philosophy that have drawn your attention?
Mr. Westerfeld: I think the movie world (and more recently TV) likes the look and feel of steampunk, but doesn't know what to do with its broader themes yet. Steampunk is about rewriting history, in effect, pushing back the constraints that society placed on people because of their gender or beliefs or who their parents were. And there has yet to be a TV version of steampunk that addresses that larger project. I will admit that I grew up with The Wild, Wild West, however, and that I desperately wanted my own personal gizmo-filled train car.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: In addition to your extremely successful YA series’ you’ve written five science fiction novels for adults. Why did you decide to write for young adults? What are the particular merits of writing for this audience?
Mr. Westerfeld: Teenagers are voracious readers, they send more and better fan mail, and they aren't as limited in their genre choices as adults. But I think the coolest thing about them is how engaged with language they are. At any given moment, more teenagers than adults are studying a foreign language, writing poetry, memorizing song lyrics, and making up slang. Teens are still acquiring language to some extent, and thus they take more joy and interest in the way novels play with words. As a writer who likes to generate slang and other kinds of neologisms, I find them a much more engaged and exciting audience with which to communicate.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: Keith Thompson’s illustrations in the three novels are stunning. I love it when books are illustrated with black and white illustrations. At any time did you and Keith Thompson work together to come up with a “look” for the illustrations, or were writing and illustrating two separate endeavours?
Mr. Westerfeld: I would send Keith first drafts of three or four chapters at a time, and he would respond very quickly with sketches, so we were bouncing back and forth from the beginning. Often I would rewrite based on his illustrations, because I soon found that he was a better engineer than me, and sometimes a better researcher as well. So at times I would be quite general, "Something's going to chase in them in a couple of chapters. Could you draw something fast?" and then let my writing follow his art.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: The internet, do you love it or hate it? Does it help or hinder you as a writer? Are there benefits and/or pitfalls to having a presence online while being an active writer?
Mr. Westerfeld: I think being in touch with readers is a great experience. Teens are wonderfully frank about what they like and dislike in my fiction, which is a really great kind of feedback to get. But the best thing about the internet is the way that teens engage each other, forming communities of readers. And these communities spread outward from the books to the wider world, as with the Harry Potter Alliance and its charitable works. A love of books has always been a way for like-minded people to find each other, and the internet has only made that project more vast and wonderful.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: Your series, Uglies, has a brilliant new sci-fi take on that old (teenage) chestnut: “Be yourself”. In Leviathan, Deryn disguises herself as a boy to join the British Air Force and must be careful not to let her secret slip. I like the fact that you’ve drawn Deryn as an independent, strong-willed young woman, but she’s also not without insecurities and prejudices. What is so unique about this time in a child’s life when they are coming-of-age, and why is it such a fascinating theme to write (and read!) about?
Mr. Westerfeld: I agree that the theme of teenage fiction is Identity. Young people are still figuring out who they are, after all. (Everyone is, really, but teenagers are better at admitting it.) Because the teenage years are filled with epic firsts—first love, first betrayal, first true loss—it's a tremendously dramatic time to write about.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: I like the way the adults in this novel, particularly Dr. Nora Barlow, seem to be positive influences on Deryn and Alek. Was this a conscious choice?
Mr. Westerfeld:I think Barlow and Volger have both positive and negative aspects. They provide a lot of good advice to their young charges, but their overall worldview is one of conflict and competition. Deryn and Alek, on the other hand, are learning the importance of working together across lines of ideology and class. So it's up to my younger characters to separate the good from the bad when it comes to their elders' example and counsel.
Mrs. Sommerfield-Smith: And do you categorize, if you could categorize your books at all, as speculative fiction? If so, what are the freedoms of writing in this genre? Are there any limitations? If not, what sets your books outside the categorization of speculative fiction?
Mr. Westerfeld: I'm lucky in writing for young adults, in that my books don't get categorized as much. I've written science fiction, fantasy, contemporary realism, and now steampunk, and yet all my books can sit happily together in the teen section of the bookstore. And that's all us writers can really ask for, that our books be findable! All the rest of it is for the critics to worry about.
Mandy and her fellow blogger and friend Kiirstin have had a lot of fun "Book Clubbing" on this blog. No, I don't mean violently attacking books with blunt objects (I can already imagine a librarian-led protest rally in response to this), but rather chatting, book-club style, about books they love.
My coworker and friend Bronwyn and I decided to do the latter with the book Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. Bronwyn's read both of the books in the series, Incarceron and Sapphique, so she's supplied me with a little teaser for each:
Incarceron:
In a world thousands of years from now, where everyone lives as though it was still the 17th century, there exists an elaborate prison. Incarceron is so vast that it contains more than cells: metal forests, forgotten cities, vast wilderness, and fog-filled never-ending ravines. Instead of stars at night, the prisoners are followed by glowing red dots, the eyes of the prison that follow their every move. Seventeen-year-old Finn has no memory but believes that he was born outside of Incarceron. He finds a crystal key which allows him to communicate with Claudia. She not only lives outside, she is also the daughter of Incarceron's warden. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.
Sapphique:
Without giving too much away, Finn and Claudia are outside together. Finn has discovered that this other world is not what he had hoped for. He must obey rules of protocol and etiquette. His friends are still stuck in Incarceron and he feels that he has abandoned them. They are searching for a magical glove, rumoured to give them the power to escape and join Finn. As the prison prepares to battle, so to does the Outside. The dynamic ending to this book will take your breath away!
***
Bronwyn: Hi Erica!
Erica: Hi Bronwyn!
Bronwyn: How are you doing? Did you get a chance to finish Incarceron?
Erica: Yes. Andrew and I were travelling home from Hamilton yesterday night
and I read a couple of chapters by flashlight. Don't worry, I wasn't the one driving! But,
point being, this book is THAT suspenseful. I couldn't wait to get home to read it.
Bronwyn: I felt the same way. I couldn't wait to finish the book and then I couldn't
wait to read the sequel, Sapphique!
Erica: You recommended that I read this book. What attracted you in the first
place? Why did you pick if off the shelf?
Bronwyn: Well first of all the beautiful cover of that key drew me in. I know as
booksellers we aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I do it all the time.
Then I was really drawn in by this unique idea that Catherine Fisher created in her
book, about a kingdom 3000 years in the future that dresses and acts like they
are living in Versailles and has a prison that is a whole other world that is really an
experiment gone wrong.
Bronwyn: I was also fascinated by the amazing array of gadgets that they use
in the kingdom, things like skin wands to not look old.
Erica: I know! The cover totally drew me in too! You know how much I love anything
steampunk. I opened the front cover and there are a whack of awesome quotes:
"...a steampunk tour de force; ...a gripping futuristic fantasy", etc. So the beautiful
cover and the reviews inside really sold me on this book. The setting (3000 years in
the future, but living as if they are in the 17th century) is very steampunk,
and I found this idea fascinating. The idea that the world is controlled by imposing the
ideals of a former era is brilliant.
Erica: And gadgets! The skin wands reminded me of the the work that Cinna
the stylist did on Katniss in The Hunger Games.
Bronwyn: I also found the main characters -- Finn in the jail and Claudia on "earth" –
very well rounded. I found myself cheering for them and also sometimes a little scared
of them or disappointed in the decisions that they made. I like when an author does that,
when their characters are not superheroes or perfect wonder-beings.
Erica: Yeah, I agree. These characters are well constructed. I liked that Fisher uses the
trope of the princess that is betrothed to an odious prince, and yet Claudia is not the
standard damsel in distress.
Erica: I was also really impressed with the way that Fisher developed the Prison as a
CHARACTER in the novel. The idea of a sentient prison reminded me a bit of the computer
(HAL 9000) in the movie 2001. I think it`s such a scary premise: a prison that is all seeing,
all-knowing and that is responsible for the life and death of its inmates.
Bronwyn: Certainly, Claudia is a woman who knows her own mind and is determined to
get her way. I think she was very empowered, especially because she had been mostly raised
by this master tutor who gave her education, ethics, but mostly taught her how to think
and question the world around her. I have not seen 2001, but I am familiar with the premise.
Sometimes I wonder about that, here we are surrounded by gadgets that we depend on.
Are they all-seeing? Anyways that's a bit too Big Brother. But the books are really built on
that Big Brother premise. And even though in Claudia's world they claim that they are "free",
in fact they are not, there are silent eyes and ears listening to the citizens at all times.
In Incarceron it's obvious when these red eyes are following you wherever you go.
Erica: True. Both Claudia and Finn are each imprisoned in their own way. You could even
argue that Finn's imprisonment is less sinister, because it's right out there. Everyone KNOWS
that Big Brother is watching, so to speak. So I`ve been poking around online and I noticed
that the rights to this book have been optioned and a movie is due out in 2013.
Taylor Lautner and Emma Watson are set to star as Finn and Claudia. What do you think
of this?
Bronwyn: OOOOO that sounds amazing! As I was reading both books I was trying to
figure out how it could be made into a movie because both worlds are so complex, especially
the prison. Incarceron just felt it had all of these layers of worlds contained within it. The
metallic forest that Finn and his group walk through to try and escape the prison, really was
so beautiful, I pictured an enchanted world and then all of a sudden the prison lights go on
and you remember that this is really a jail. A strange (and dare I say wondrous) jail?
Erica: I think that they'll definitely make beautiful movies. The setting is so visually rich
and detailed. The cinematographer's going to have a party. OK. So if the Twilight franchise
has Team Jacob and Team Edward, I propose that there will be a Team Finn vs. Team Jared.
Am I alone in having a bit of a crush on Jared? Tall, dark, handsome Sapient/tutor that
he is?
Bronwyn: I think I would probably be on Team Finn... He definitely seems a "rebel with a
cause". But I can see how Jared is a beguiling character. The second book in the series,
at the very end Jared surprises me, and seems to have a very large character shift.
Bronwyn: Are you planning on reading the second book?
Erica: Definitely. I'm hoping maybe my Jared/Claudia fantasy will be realized in
Sapphique? Haa, just kidding. Too pedagogically inappropriate. No spoilers please.
I just Googled Jared/Incareron/fanfic and the author R.J. Anderson has a series of
fanfiction based on Incarceron.
Bronwyn: Interesting. I am not familiar with fanfiction. What is that?
Erica: It's when fans of a novel or a particular character in a novel take that character
and create their own story and publish it online.It's kind of an outlet for fans to expand
on a story or take characters in a different direction. It’s like a DIY way to make your
favourite stories last longer!
Erica: Here's the link for the R. J. Anderson fanfiction:
Goliath is the conclusion to the Young Adult trilogy, Leviathan. I whipped through the first two books in this series, Leviathan and Behemoth, so you can imagine how excited I was when I received an advance copy of Goliath.
The Leviathan trilogy is a steampunk-inspired alternate history of World War I. The series’ main characters are Alek, heir-in hiding to the Austrian throne and son of the murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Princess Sophie, and Deryn Sharp, a young girl from London who dreams of being part of the British Air Service. Deryn sneaks her way in to the service by pretending to be a boy and by calling herself Dylan Sharp. In Westerfeld’sversion of WWI, there are two main opposing factions: the Clankers and the Darwinists. The Clankers are countries, such as Germany and Austria-Hungary, that use steam-driven iron machines for warfare. The Darwinists use altered animals as their weaponry. Darwinists countries include Britain, France and Japan.
The three novels follow Alek and Deryn’s adventures aboard the airship Leviathan, a huge vehicle made out of a whale and an intricate ecosystem unto itself. On top of some thrilling combat with huge steampunk iron machines and some daring escapes, lies a budding romance between Alek and Deryn that builds throughout the series. Admittedly, the feelings are a little one-sided in the first two novels. As Deryn is disguised as a boy, admitting her feelings for Alek would be like admitting that her whole existence as a soldier has been a lie.
And if all this still doesn’t sell you on what a thrilling series this is, Keith Thompson’s black and white illustrations throughout the book are fantastically intricate depictions of the huge beasties and clankers. I found myself flipping ahead in each book to look at the next illustration, despite the major spoilers!
Behemoth and the entire Leviathan trilogy will appeal to teenagers and adults alike, especially history buffs and steampunk enthusiasts. A great series for teen boys who are reluctant readers, too.
So imagine, if you will, my girlish squeal of delight when,one morning,my boss handed me a packageaddressed to Edge of Seventeen. Mail! Yay!
The return address saidYvonne Prinz. "Hmm. Who's that? ," I thought. Then it dawned on me. Yvonne Prinz: author of the incredibly cool novelThe Vinyl Princess, co-founder of the indie record storeAmoeba Music,bloggerand 'zine author! Inside the package was a bunch of copies of her 'zine and a bunch of VP buttons. I have three of each to give away, so be sure to enter your name below to get one.
Mandy put me on toThe Vinyl Princesslast year and after I readthe novel, I think Mandy's review of the book perfectly captures my feelings for this book. See Mandy's enthusiastic review of TheVinylPrincess here. And her further musingshere.
The 'zine that I'm giving away is like a love letter to music: vintage vinyl reviews, top ten lists, a comic strip and more.
After a bit of an extended vacation, Edge of Seventeen is back! Mandy has offered me the enormously thrilling responsibility of taking care of this baby for a while. So, I've already written a few blog posts but I suppose it's never too late for official introductions. My name is Erica and I work at Words Worth Books in Waterloo. I love reading kids and YA books and I have a special interest in anything with a steampunk aesthetic. I hope that you'll enjoy my posts. Mandy will continue to post reviews once in a while, in between running a world-class local independent bookstore. In order to accomplish all of this, Mandy will give up sleep.
So, in honour of Mandy and the love for YA that we both share, I thought I'd share with you a little Q&A, to get right back to the heart of why it's so much fun to blog about Young Adult fiction.
Erica: Hi Mandy! Mandy: Hi!!!
Mandy and Erica, blog-size.
Erica: What are you reading
right now? Mandy: The new Michael
Ondaatje. It's okay. Erica: I know that you have a very
special place in your heart for teen fiction, especially dystopian fiction. Is
there anything that you've read lately that's wowed you, or anything that you
are anticipating? Mandy: I'm anticipating reading the
new Kenneth Oppel and the new Maureen Johnson, for sure. Recently I finished
the new Eileen Cook book, I think it's out in January. (I'd have to look up
all the titles hahaha) Erica: What is it about Young Adult fiction that draws
you to this genre? The hot boys? Mandy: Hahahahahaha! The only guys I find hot in YA are
the Weasley twins. Erica: No!
Weasely Weasleys
Mandy: Yes!! And both of 'em! For awhile when
I was reading more YA, I loved it because there was such a huge community
dedicated to it. And I had started reading the blog Bookshelves of
Doom http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/,
and I loved her review style. She got me on to so much and I just went with
it. And then a lovely librarian friend was also locally blogging about
teen books and I was hooked. Erica: When you mention the YA community, what do you
mean? Readers, bloggers, authors? Mandy: Mostly bloggers, but also publishers. There was
all this new buzz about the teen genre and I wanted to be part of it. Erica: There are LOTS of blogs on the web, and lots of
YA book blogs, to boot. What sets Edge of Seventeen apart from the rest, in
your opinion? Mandy: Actually I think EOS is pretty standard in terms
of a book blog. BUT I think with your renewed interest in maintaining it, and
your injecting it with Steampunk goodness, it'll really become something. Erica: I don't think the blog is or has ever been
standard! Your sheer enthusiasm and amazing author interviews made me a loyal
blog reader. Mandy: Every blog should have some unique focus to it,
in partnership with being a straightforward teen book review blog. Pick a
passion and incorporate it into your blog and you'll stand out. I never really
did that. Erica: I endeavor to take the awesomeness that you
started and continue it. Mandy: Ha ha ha, you'll make it great. Erica: Anne of Green Gables was the book that made me
into a reader. It has a strong female character, which is something that I
still love in YA books. Was there a book like this for you? Mandy: One of the books that made me into a reader was Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I
loved it. It was also the beginning of my love for Sci-Fi. But I can't
remember my first book, per se. Erica: You've interviewed quite a
few fantastic authors on your blog. Which one would you most like to take out
for dinner? What would you chat about over coffee and dessert? Mandy: I'd love to have dinner with
Bernard Beckett just because I have a crush on him. It's possible that I
wouldn't have much to say to him except "Genesis was amazing...." I might have more to say to Meg
Rosoff though, just about anticipating how a story is developed. I'm in awe of How I Live Now. All of the elements
of the story and the way she builds it up, it's remarkable. Erica: You're
remarkable. Thanks for creating such a fantastic blog and thanks for chatting
with me. Mandy: Anytime!!
This novel is INTENSE. I was first attracted to the book because of it's awesome cover. The photo here doesn't do it justice: in real life you can clearly see that it is meant to look like weathered metal, probably copper, and the title looks as if it's been etched into the metal. Gorgeous.
Once I got past the cover, the story itself drew me in faster than any book I've read recently. The story opens in an extremely claustrophobic setting as Nailer, a teenage boy, clambers through a service duct on a grounded oil tanker. Ship Breaker takes place in a future when oil is scarce and discharged oil tankers are docked on the the coast to be broken down for parts. Nailer's job, along with the rest of the teenage crew, is to scavenge copper wiring from grounded ships (thus: ship breaking). Smaller kids like Nailer are preferred for this work, because they can easily navigate the narrow ducts in the tankers.
Listen to this nail-biting description of one of Nailer's salvage missions:
All around, the duct pinged and creaked. It sank slightly, tilting. The whole thing was on the verge of collapse. Nailer's frantic activity and extra weight had weakened it. ...Metal shrieked. The duct dropped out from under him. Nailer scrabbled for handholds as his world gave away. His fingers seized scavenged wire. For a second it held, suspending him above an infinite pit. Then the wire tore loose. He plummeted...
Aargh! **bites nails**
Nailer and his friends live in the Gulf Coast region where the worst of the frequent storms that rip along the coast are nicknamed "City Killers": storms so intense that the obliterate anything in their path. In Ship Breaker's dystopian future, global warming is NOW and New Orleans has sunk, twice. I know, know. I hear you saying: "This all sounds terribly grim. Why would I want to read another dystopian YA novel that's so unrelentlingly BLEAK?" Well, for one, Bacigalupi is an amazing author. I read this book late into the wee hours of the morning because I needed to know what would happen next. Brilliant pacing. And secondly, as with many dystopian novels, there is a hopeful undercurrent. Nailer's life is all hard knocks and he has an extremely dysfunctional relationship with his dad. His dad is a drug addict who thinks only of when and where his next fix will come from. So, ever resilient, Nailer finds family in his friend Pima and her mother, Sadna.
Family. It was just a word. Nailer could spell it now. Could see all the letters strung together. But it was a symbol, too....Family wasn't any more reliable than marriages or friendships or blood sworn crew , and maybe less. His own father really would gut him if he ever got hold of him again; it didn't matter if they shared blood or not....But Nailer was pretty sure that Sadna would fight for him tooth and nail, and maybe even give up her life to save him.
Nailer ALWAYS finds a way. He never gives up. Sure he falters and stumbles at times, but there's always a will. It's easy to draw similarities between Ship Breaker and The Hunger Games; between Nailer and Katniss. Both Nailer and Katniss are prisoners of circumstance who have to rely upon their own inner resourcefulness. And both books play around with the subject of class, comparing the haves to the have nots. In Ship Breaker's future there is no middle class: the rich are rich and the poor are dirt poor.
I recommend Ship Breaker to anyone who's enjoyed some of the more popular dystopian teen fiction of the last little while: The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, and Divergent. This is also an excellent novel "for the dudes."
Please allow me to break away from books for a moment to describe an experience that was at least faerie-tale-ish. Last week, my husband and I took an early morning walk to Sabletine, a local patisserie, thinking of chocolate croissants and european-style coffee the whole way. As we approached Sabletine, something in the window of the next-door consignment shop (Patina) caught my eye. In the window tied to a hanger that displayed a lacy camisole was a pair of pink and green ostrich feathers. Hmm. But hunger trumped interest so we went directly to Sabletine. Emerging about 30 minutes later, covered in croissant dust and energized by the strong coffee, we entered Patina. I tried on a few things that, as it turned out, didn't fit; however, on our way out my husband pointed out a coat: long, black velvet, with a fur collar and lined with what looked like satin. I turned over the tag and read: 1940s Opera Coat. Hmm. I tried it on .
Opera Coat. Yes, I am indeed grinning like an idiot as I wear a winter coat in 35 degree weather.
Now here's where it gets a bit weird. When I looked in the mirror with this coat on, I really felt like I was in a some sort of mythologically-inspired folk tale. I felt as if I was late for a meeting with Baba Yaga; or that I should be strewing breadcrumbs behind me or something. Well, I WAS covered in croissant dust.
Anyway, I bought the coat, and the ostrich feathers. The lovely lady that sold them to me looked me straight in eye when I approached the counter, and frowned slightly. "Oh", she said, "You aren't the lady that was looking at this coat yesterday." "What does that mean!?" I thought, panicking. "Does that mean that I can't buy it!" Interrupting my rapid spiral of despair, she continued, "But she had plenty of time to come back and get it." Phew.
"Remarkable bird. Beautiful plummage, in'it?"
As she touched the ostrich feathers to put them in the bag, she told me that they had come to her through a older lady whose grandmother had worn them in her hair on her wedding day in the 1940s. Her fiance had just returned from the war and had purchased her her several gifts, two of which were these feathers and the lacy camisole that shared space in the shop window until I plucked the feathers away. After she told me this she said, almost wistfully, "And I guess that story dies here." Being a soft touch, I promised to share the story with others whenever I wore the feathers. So there you have it.
And this is my cat. He is VERY interested in this feather.
Holly Black's wicked "Modern Tale of Faerie" series.
On a related note, lately I've been reading Holly Black's modern faerie tales. This woman knows how to write edgy, fast-paced fantasy. Tithe is a about a teenager who stumbles into the faerie world and unwittingly becomes a pawn in the rivalry between two faerie kingdoms. I love the fact that Black portrays teenagers as real people. There are suggestions of sexual situations, and some language, so I'd recommend these books to a 15+ audience. Totally worth checking out.
Anna Humphrey is the author of two amazing young adult novels: Rhymes with Cupid (HarperTeen), and most recently, Mission (Un)Popular(Disney/Hyperion). Rhymes with Cupid is a light-hearted romance that takes place around Valentine's Day. Let me just say that this little book had me grinning from ear-to-ear the whole time. Seriously. Grinning like an idiot.
Mission (Un)Popular is the story of Margot Button, a newly-minted seventh grader who struggles to reinvent herself in the seemingly perfect setting of a new school, a.k.a., new beginning. But her new best friend, Em, is trouble with with a capital T: wildly manipulative, selfish and hiding a troubled past. I loved how Margot's character deals with the turmoil: not neatly, in a 1/2 hour sitcom kind of way, but messily, realistically and honestly.
Anna's a busy mother of two on top of her full-time job as a writer, and as you'll see below, she is made of awesome. I hope you enjoy our chat!
Erica: Hi Anna. Thanks for making time today.
Anna: Hi Erica!
Erica: 2011 has been a big year for you... two books in one year!
Anna: It's definitely been busy! I also had a baby somewhere in there. It's all been a bit of a blur.
Erica: I bet! You have two young children at home. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?
Anna: There are so many advantages, really. I love that I (mostly) get to set my own schedule and that I can fit the stuff of life (laundry, errands, etc.) around my writing time. I also love the flexibility it gives me when it comes to my kids. They go to daycare part time, but we still get to spend the afternoons together.
Anna: And as for the disadvantages... my office supplies have a way of ending up in my daughter's craft box... but that's about the worst of it.
Erica: Aww. So cute. Your second novel (or second to be published), Mission (Un)Popular, takes place in junior high school. The main character, Margot Button, refers to the eve of a new school year as “School Year’s Eve”. I love this expression! Why do you think the transition between grade six and grade seven is such a magical (yet terrifying!) time?
Anna: I think it's magical (or, it was for me, and it is for Margot) because changing schools seems like such a fresh start--a real opportunity to reinvent yourself. But it's definitely terrifying, too. First of all, because kids can be SO ruthless and mean at that age. And also because trying to become a new, improved version of yourself isn't easy, and it never comes without risk.
Erica: I absolutely agree. There is a power shift that occurs in young girls not just in middle school, but even as young as kindergarten. Divisions happen, cliques form and girls are pitted against one another. Why are girls so mean to each other? And why is this so much more intense in the pre-teen years?
Anna: God! I wish I knew... Maybe then I could protect my daughter from it. I worry about girls. I really do. My daughter's in kindergarten and, like you say, it's already happening to some degree. If I had to guess why girls get mean, I guess I'd say it all comes down to our fear of not being good enough, or worthy enough. We take each other down to make ourselves feel better and safer, socially speaking. It's sad and wrong, but I think every one of us has been guilty of doing it at one point or another. And it gets especially bad in the preteen years, I think, because that's when you start taking a really close look at your peers and trying to figure out where you fit in, or IF you fit in.
Erica: Your book has some pretty powerful stuff to say about self-esteem and conforming to peer pressure. How do you hope your book will be received by girls that are Margot’s age?
Anna: I hope they'll be able to read it, and laugh in places, and not feel preached to in any way. Kids that age have enough people telling them what to do. If they're able to relate to Margot and what she's going through, and maybe cheer her on as she comes to realize what's right for her... well, that'd be more than enough for me.
Erica: I think you've hit the nail on the head. Kids this age don't want to be preached to. Lord knows that I didn't listen when my parents told me that the mean girls in grade seven were just "jealous." "Jealous of what?" was all I could think!
Erica: One of the things that I noted while reading Mission (Un)Popular was that Margot’s character is really believable. Thank you for not writing Margot as a child. Twelve year olds, whether we like it or not, know and experience a lot more than we’d like to admit. Do you think twelve-year-old girls have changed significantly over the years?
Erica: I mean, from our experience of seventh grade to what it's like today?
Anna: Agreed. Twelve year olds definitely know more (and have been through more) than most parents or other adults like to admit... And I'm willing to bet that today's twelve year olds are up against even more than we were at that age. I mean, everything just seems to move faster these days, don't you think?
Erica: Yes. The internet has become a whole new tool for social interaction and bullying. In fact, in your novel, Margot and her best friend, Erika, sort of breakup over the internet. On your blog, you have some pretty cute musings on what it means to be a best friend. What is your best friend like?
Anna: My best friend is made of rainbows. Seriously. She's amazing. Loyal and honest and smart and funny and always, always there for me. She's the one I call when everyone in the entire house has the flu, and she shows up every time. I've known her since I was 15 . Actually, Mission (Un)Popular is dedicated to her.
Erica: Yes! I noticed the dedication. She sounds AMAZING. You're really lucky!
Erica: I noticed some serious Sarah Dessen love on your blog! What other authors would you love to have coffee with?
Anna: I also have a great big author-crush on Susan Juby. She wrote Alice, I Think, and its two sequels. She's hilarious. She's also Canadian, and that makes me love her even more. Also, Gordon Korman. I could read I Want to Go Home a hundred times and not be sick of it.
Erica: Susan Juby! Totally worthy of an author crush! Gordon Korman's great too! One last question: You'll be leading writing workshops for 9 to 12 year olds this fall at TPL (Toronto Public Library). Magical or terrifying?
Anna: Oh. SO terrifying. Don't tell the Toronto Public Library this, but I have no idea what I'm doing, and public speaking makes me feel barfy. That said, I'm also really excited about the opportunity to write with a group of girls. I think that, once I get over my nerves, we're going to have an amazing time together.
Anna: Or guys... sorry. I should add that guys are totally welcome to sign up, too! I hope some will!
Erica: Thanks for your time, Anna! You are my new author crush.
Anna: Awe. Shucks. Thanks, Erica. It was great talking with you!
