Please Don't Read This Book

The Dreamhunter series

  

Dreamhunter & Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox 

Julie:  I shouldn't be starting our conversation about Elizabeth Knox's DREAMHUNTER and DREAMQUAKE (together, the DREAMHUNTER duet) right now, because I don't have the books nearby.  I'm usually obsessive about flipping through the books we're recommending when I write my parts of our reviews, making sure I have facts right and doing my best to convey the tone and other qualities of the books.  But in a way it's perfect that I don't have DREAMHUNTER and DREAMQUAKE at hand.  Because what I love most about them is how powerfully their story has stayed with me in the weeks since I finished the books.  I remember these two books far better than most, even though their pacing is slower than many of the fantasies I've loved, and even though they lack the kind of distinctive voice that I'm typically drawn to.  Mia, did DREAMHUNTER and DREAMQUAKE cast the same lasting spell for you?      

Marirosa Mia: DREAMHUNTER did and didn't, Julie. Let me explain. I enjoyed reading it. The language was lush and descriptive. It had a certain leisurely tone that I quite enjoyed, and I could see the thought behind it. The plot chugged along, and it wasn't until I finished that I realized that I was missing something. But what? It wasn't until I read DREAMQUAKE that it all came together for me, that it felt like that big moment - that crescendo if you will - when everything works. A lot happens in DREAMHUNTER, but at the same time not a lot does. It really does need DREAMQUAKE to feel fully formed and have impact. Am I making sense, Julie? 

Julie: I agree wholeheartedly.  DREAMHUNTER sets the stage for the far more compelling action and satisfying resolution of DREAMQUAKE.  I was intrigued by DREAMHUNTER--its ideas, tone, characters, and world--but the book is a prelude.  The foundation built in DREAMHUNTER allows DREAMQUAKE to excel.  DREAMQUAKE is a Printz Honor book; DREAMHUNTER is not; and that is fitting.  

But we haven't even summarized the story yet!  Let me give that a shot:  Laura and Rose Hame are cousins and friends who live in a world much like ours, except for its proximity to the Place, a land wherein a select few can "catch" dreams.  These dream hunters can then share those dreams with the rest of the community.  At the start of DREAMHUNTER, Laura and Rose are eligible to determine whether either qualifies as a dream hunter.  Their relationship becomes strained when one of them qualifies and the other does not.  At the same time, Laura's father--like Rose's mother, an acclaimed dream hunter--disappears under circumstances suggesting dark forces at play in the Place.  The girls' efforts, and those of their family, to set right what has gone very wrong continue in DREAMQUAKE.

I'm not sure I just did the story justice, but it's not easy to sum up a new world and its rules.  How'd I do, Mia?  

M: Very well, considering my reaction to the book's back copy was, "I'm sorry, but what?" Ha! But back to the books and particularly Rose and Laura, whom I cared for dearly. I was first very attached to Rose and her fiery nature, but by the end of the first book I was with Laura all the way (not to say that I started to dislike Rose, but just that my concern for Laura increased exponentially). By the end I wanted Laura to succeed in all her endeavors and become the greatest heroine in the WORLD...or at least pretty darn good. What about you, Julie?

J:  I also care deeply for both Rose and Laura--and their parents.  All of these characters are flawed, but all of them (whether gifted with dream-hunter powers or not) are heroic.  Knox does a terrific job of bringing them to life and making us sympathize with them and root for them.  (Though I did find Rose's ultimate treatment by her parents a bit mysterious.  Do you know what I mean?)  I also like that the book made me think in a different way about dreams and their effects.  I suppose it would be quite powerful to be able to inflict nightmares--or dreams of contentment--night after night, on a significant percentage of the population.  Though I'm not sure it would be as powerful as Knox contends.  What do you think?    

M: Well, as a person who often suffers from incredibly vivid nightmares after which I can't go back to sleep until the sun is up...I might be with Knox on this one, Julie! And I suppose there's something to be said for the lack of sleep accumulation!

J:  So true!  (Just remembering my nasty, sleep-deprived self when my girls were infants...yeesh.)  But what about the effects of contented dreams?  

M:  I think I might be just the person to ask these questions since I'm always affected by my dreams (as they tend to be very vivid and also have giant back stories). I always have a bit of a hop in my step after a really lovely dream. So in my case I can see what Knox is getting at. I should probably be in some sort of sleep study program...

J:  Huh.  Turns out I'm a wimpy dreamer.  How sad.

M: Depends on the dream I suppose. Not sure you’d ever want to experience one of my nightmares!

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Author You Should be Reading: DIANA WYNNE JONES

Oh, the possibilities!

Julie:  It can take a while for Mia and me to find a book we both love.  This is an obvious downside of our dialogue format for recommendations.  (A huge upside, for me anyway, is that it's far more fun to talk about a good book with a friend than to ramble on all by my lonesome.  But I digress.)  To fill those quiet intervals, we thought we might start sharing a bit of our process for identifying the books that we think have potential.  And so, here are some of my recent thoughts.  

I suggested HOKEY POKEY, by Jerry Spinelli, after reading this review by celebrity librarian Betsy Bird:  http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2013/01/14/review-of-the-day-hokey-pokey-by-jerry-spinelli/.  Bird admits that Spinelli's prior books have left her cold, then says that HOKEY POKEY is "one of the strongest works of children’s fiction I have ever had the sheer joy to encounter."  Surely that's worth a read!  So it's now on our list.

I also like teacher Monica Edinger's blog, "Educating Alice."  She recently posted this rave preview of an upcoming fantasy novel for young adults: "Even though MORTAL FIRE isn’t out till June I want to write about it now to get the word out as it is simply spectacular.  And to encourage those fantasy fans among you unfamiliar with Elizabeth Knox to go and read her two other also fabulous young adult books, DREAMHUNTER and DREAMQUAKE, the latter a Printz honor book."  http://medinger.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/coming-soonish-elizabeth-knoxs-mortal-fire/  And so I'm proposing to Mia, at this very moment, that we take a look at DREAMHUNTER.  Mia, what do you think?  

Finally, my younger daughter, Isabel, recently devoured the middle-grade novel SEE YOU AT HARRY'S, by Jo Knowles.  Maybe we should add that to our middle-grade list, Mia? Also, any suggestions to add?

Julie again:  Wait!  I've found more possibilities, before you've even had the chance to respond!  Take a look at this fabulous list from husband-wife uber-talents Philip and Erin Stead (seriously, those author-illustrators are jaw-droppingly good.  They’ve chosen "the books [from 2012] that meant something special to us at this point in our lives. These are books that challenged us to be better writers and illustrators."  Here's the link:  http://philipstead.com/2013/01/22/announcing-the-4th-annual-phildecott-and-steadbery-awards.   And here are some of the picture books from this list that intrigue me:  STEPHEN AND THE BEETLE, by Jorge Lujan; A TRIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD WITH MOUSE, by Frank Viva; and BONE DOG.  Note, too, that Steve Sheinkin's BOMB (middle grade non-fiction) is showing up everywhere as a 2012 favorite, including this list.  Hmm.

And one more option!  I never read Nancy Farmer's HOUSE OF THE SCORPION, a 2004 science fiction novel for young teens, which won (get this!  how often does this happen?!) the National Book Award and the Newbery Honor and the Printz Honor.  Wow.  Seems worth reading, right?  Especially because the sequel is due out in September.  

That's it!  I think.  I make no promises.   

Marirosa Mia: Am I good to go? You sure? (waits a few minutes just in case)  I'm all for reading HOUSE OF THE SCORPION! I've been meaning to read it for a while. And I already have my copy of HOKEY POKEY on the way.  I'll make sure to add DREAMHUNTER to that mix, Julie!

Let's see. On my end I’m interested in reading TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG, which I looked up after a friend recommended it. The description is quite intriguing in that it doesn't say much! "Ned Henry shuttles between the 1940s and the 21st century while researching Coventry Cathedral for a patron interested in rebuilding it until the time continuum is disrupted." Time continuum disrupted? I'M THERE. Plus it feels a bit Terry Pratchett-like, so I'm intrigued.

I just got my copy of TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME, and I can't wait to devour it soon. A few others I'm looking forward to are OUT OF THE EASY, by Ruta Sepetys, and PAPER VALENTINE, by Brenna Yovanoff.  I'm a fan of both of these ladies' work, so I can't wait for their latest.

J:  We're so set!  But, just because it’s raining children's book reading ideas right now, let me close by noting that School Library Journal's annual Battle of the Kids Books has begun!  Here's their list; we can check it against ours:  http://battleofthebooks.slj.com.  Oh, and by the way, my copy of DREAMHUNTER has arrived!  (Boy, was that fast.)  I might have to start with it, since Isabel has stolen HOKEY POKEY. 

So many books, so little time!

Marirosa Mia: There are thousands of books published each year, which makes me both incredibly happy and incredibly sad, because there’s simply not enough time to read every single one of them! 2012 was another great year for books in all genres and for all ages. Though I can say that I probably read close to 60 books in 2012 (half of which aren’t coming out until THIS year!), there are still many 2012 books I need to get to. Like:

LIAR & SPY – Rebecca Stead:  WHEN YOU REACH ME was the first book Julie and I reviewed on this blog and one of the reasons I wanted to start a blog in the first place, so I can’t wait to read Stead's new novel!

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS – John Green:  Please don’t yell at me because I haven’t read it yet. YES, I know, I know, but I guess I’m waiting for when I want to die in a puddle of my own tears to read it, OK?

TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME – Carol Rifka Brunt:  An amazing title. Gorgeous cover. Gut-wrenching plotline: 1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

Julie:  I also need to read LIAR & SPY, but I've beat you to THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME.  I loved TELL THE WOVLES I'M HOME, and I'm apparently the only reader on the planet who found THE FAULT IN OUR STARS ultimately tiresome.  I suspect if I'd loved it, then you would've read it too by now, for a possible blog review.  Sorry about that!

I'm intrigued by BUILDING STORIES, by Chris Ware, in which stories are presented in a host of different formats.  I've never seen a better reviewed book. Check out these review excerpts: http://www.amazon.com/Building-Stories-Chris-Ware/dp/product-description/0375424334/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books.   It's certainly not a book for younger kids, though. Maybe young adults. 

I recently read and enjoyed Louise Erdich's THE PLAGUE OF DOVES (written for adults) and liked it enough to order CHICKADEE, her 2012 middle-grade novel about twin brothers who somehow become separated.  (Erdich's THE ROUND HOUSE, a sister book to THE PLAGUE OF DOVES, won the National Book Award this year.)

And I became fascinated by Lisa O'Donnell's THE DEATH OF BEES after hearing an interview with her on NPR this weekend.  I'm cheating a little with this one, since it's technically a 2013 release.  But it fascinates me because the synopsis of the plot is so similar to that of THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS, a 2012 middle-grade novel by Sara Pennypacker.  Both books involve two girls trying to hide the death of the grownups in their household.  Pennypacker also wrote the CLEMENTINE books, which I wholeheartedly love; but I was disappointed by THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS.  I have a hunch that THE DEATH OF BEES will compare favorably--and that comparing the two will yield interesting writing tips.  We'll see!    

M: Those all sounds great! How about our readers out there? Any 2012 books you haven't gotten to? What 2013 reads are you dying to sink your teeth into? As for us, Julie, we better start reading.

Author You Should be Reading: ROBIN MCKINLEY

Marirosa Mia: Hello, everyone.  For a while I've been tossing around the idea of a new segment called "An Author You Should be Reading."  But thanks to life, the holidays, and NaNoWriMo, my first post got a bit delayed. Here it is, FINALLY. 

My first author you should be reading?  The one and only Robin McKinley.  Let me give a general overview of what I love about her; Julie and I have already reviewed two of her pieces, SUNSHINE and THE HERO AND THE CROWN, in more detail. 

I first discovered McKinley when my lovely friend, Annie, handed me a copy of SUNSHINE, confident that I would fall as deeply in love with McKinley's writing as she had. After reading SUNSHINE, I immediately purchased every McKinley book I could find in my local bookstore:  BEAUTY, SPINDLE'S END and DEERSKIN.  Reading each felt easy, like visiting an old friend. With just a sentence or two McKinley builds a world. She chooses her structure carefully and guides her readers expertly along the way. Of all her novels (I've read even more after that bookstore run), my favorites are DEERSKIN, SUNSHINE, and THE HERO AND THE CROWN. Like most of McKinley's work, those novels feature a strong female character - a survivor - who plows on, regardless of the obstacles she faces. 

I also admire the way McKinley handles love. It isn't flowery or ornate; it simply is.  There are no mistaken identities or accidental kissings of the wrong person--nothing messy or scandalous.  But the love portrayed is still intense, and very real.

McKinley is a writer who will always have a home on my bookshelf. If you get a chance, pick up one of her books, like Newbery Honor winner THE BLUE SWORD or Newbery medalist THE HERO AND THE CROWN. Or maybe SUNSHINE is the book for you--Neil Gaiman called it "perfect." McKinley's many fairy tale retellings, like SPINDLE'S END or DEERSKIN, are also well worth trying.  Reading any of these, you might find yourself a new friend.

Congrats! Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Laura Hartness who won a copy of FIRE and GRACELING by Kristin Cashore. Laura we will be emailing you soon to get your address!

Thanks to everyone who entered and look out for more reviews and giveaways.

GIVEAWAY: Graceling & Fire by Kristin Cashore!!

Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore

Julie:  Here's one of my flaws:  Sometimes, when a book launches to a crazy good reception--a slew of starred reviews, even more raves in the blogosphere--I refuse to read it.  Why?  Silly reasons, most of them unflattering.  But one, at least, can be cast as heroic.  I am taking a stand for underdog books.  I figure, this insanely popular book doesn't need me.  It has enough attention.  Other books need me.  

Only after much time has passed might I give the popular book a chance.  If I see it standing alone on a shelf, for example, past its heyday.  Then I'll think, I remember that book!  It's supposed to be good!  And then I'll read it.  I don't always love it.  But I certainly loved this one:  Kristin Cashore's GRACELING, a fantasy novel I finally read this summer after resisting for four long years.  "Read" is not really the right word:  I drank it in, then moved quickly through the other two books in the trilogy, FIRE and BITTERBLUE.  Mia, I know you recently read GRACELING and FIRE.  What do you think?  

Marirosa Mia: I must agree with you on those two points, Julie. You do have a tendency to refuse to read books that are already being lauded by others (which I totally understand, and it's part of your adorable stubborn self).  And I also loved Cashore's Graceling Realm (which is what the trilogy is being called). GRACELING and FIRE have sat on my shelf for over a year now, trumped by other books on our list.  So when you finally relented and read them, I rejoiced! I was even happier when I started GRACELING and simply flew through both it and FIRE. I dove into the world that Cashore created and can't wait to dive into BITTERBLUE! I think in each book Cashore grows as a writer - which I just LOVE. I love it when you can see a writer flex her muscles and continue to shine with each book.  I think Cashore is just getting started. But on to the books themselves! Julie, what do you fancy about them?

Julie:  Let me start with GRACELING.  In it, Cashore tells the story of Katsa, who is one of the rare few in her land to be born with a Grace (or gift).  Katsa is Graced with killing, at a minimum, and is forced by her uncle, a king, to work as his thug.  Reacting against her own brutality, and against the petty ruthlessness of several kings, Katsa helps form a secret, rebellious Council. In the course of conducting a Council mission, she meets Po, another royal-born Graceling who challenges her in unexpected ways.  

I have to confess that as I was reading GRACELING, I more than once thought, Wait.  Didn't something like this happen in THE HERO AND THE CROWN (a novel by Robin McKinley that we rave about here)?  I also confess that I prefer the tone of THE HERO AND THE CROWN, which is more other-worldly and haunting, less contemporary.  But I never paused for very long to consider any of this.  Because GRACELING has a terrific combination of action and character development.  Cashore does a terrific job bringing to life a slew of characters.  The book is never boring, even though Katsa is so incredibly gift that by rights there should be little tension.  In fact, until the end of the novel, most of the tension comes not from Katsa's Coucil-related work but from the psychological impact of her Grace and, more interestingly, Po's.  I can't say more without a spoiler, but I particularly love Cashore's willingness to grapple with all of the emotional fallout that might result from actually having the amplified powers that some of us dream of.  Do you agree, Mia?

M: I don't think I thought of THE HERO AND THE CROWN at all while reading GRACELING, though they may have similarities. I agree with you that when a book does it right, popularity of themes is often forgotten, swept away by the story you're reading. I also love how the main struggle is all internal for both Katsa and Fire, who are both very physical and powerful women. For example, in FIRE the main character, Fire, is a human monster.  Monsters are creatures born in every species with extraordinary gifts. They are coveted and feared all over the land. For Fire, who makes men and women equally love and hate her with one glance, her "curse" is the ability to work her way into people's mind, making her a very powerful ally or enemy.

Both Katsa and Fire come into their own throughout the novel, discovering who they are within the confines of their gifts and who they could be outside of them. Was there anything in particular you didn't enjoy about the books? Mine is a bit minor and feels petty, but I thought the use of the word "monster" was a bit generic in FIRE. Reading sentences that spoke about a "monster mouse" and a "monster kitten" made me roll my eyes on occasion.

 J:  I thought FIRE veered a little too close to soap opera at times.  It started slowly, too, and it took a while for me to warm to (forgive the word choice) Fire, who tries so valiantly to do nothing (and therefore cause no harm).  I also agree with you about the monster mice and kittens.  They undercut the power of the term.  But none of this stopped me from rushing to read BITTERBLUE, the next book in the Graceling Realm.  You'll have to let me know what you think of that one as soon as you're done!  

M: Will do! And for our lovely readers, I actually have some copies to give away! Add your comment below for a chance to win a paperback copy of both GRACELING and FIRE. Contest ends September 28^th. So comment! Do it!!!

The Age of Miracles

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Marirosa Mia: I was struck by the beauty and sadness of Karen Thompson Walker's THE AGE OF MIRACLES the way I'm sometimes captivated by an old photograph. How it encapsulates only a specific time and place. We can imagine what has happened before or after, but we really don't know more than what we see in that picture. THE AGE OF MIRACLES gives us our narrator, Julia, who looks back in time to when the earth's rotation began to slow. The days and nights grew longer and longer; a ball didn't travel across the field the same way it used to; birds fell out the sky in mass; and more. The world is changing - dying - and Julia is just eleven years old. 

Her narrative is sparse and clean as she watches the world around her change.  Friendships disappear while love blossoms; her parents marriage crumbles and rebuilds; neighbors are shunned and punished for their choices. And it is in this time of fear that Julia grows. It is the age of miracles, as she puts it. An age where kids shoot up in length and develop first crushes while the world around them changes forever. Though the language is sparse it is very, very, vivid; and the people and places stayed with me even after I closed the book. 

Walker's book is the perfect snapshot of this specific (speculative) moment in time - but it is just a snapshot. Which is where I think a few people might grumble, as THE AGE OF MIRACLES has no clear end. It offers no explanation for the slowing and no glimpse of the future of Earth and Julia. It is simply that moment in time - that memory of a beginning, left wide open. Despite this I very much enjoyed THE AGE OF MIRACLES.  Perhaps you might think "enjoyed" is not the right word for a book that brought me to tears, but it is. The graceful language and quiet tone wove themselves into my heart and have yet to find their way out. 

THE AGE OF MIRACLES is sad, yes. But it has a quiet beauty that lingers.

 

NPR's 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels

After many days of voting, NPR has revealed their TOP 100 Young Adult books.

I see a lot of the books we've recommended here (it's undeniable we have excellent taste) and many that I'll be requesting from my local library. Did your favorite make the cut?

The Hero and the Crown

The Hero and the Crown – Robin McKinley

Marirosa Mia: Seriously, Julie, I'm starting the think that my "to read" pile is a treasure trove of gems, because here's another one! I've been a fan of Robin McKinley since my friend Annie told me to read SUNSHINE, which led me to DEERSKIN, then SPINDLE'S END and more. Well, McKinley does it again in my opinion. THE HERO AND THE CROWN focuses on Aerin, fiery haired daughter of the King of Damar, who longs for more than her noble duties (a plot that sounds - on the surface - similar to that of Pixar's BRAVE, which isn't necessarily bad, as I have a feeling BRAVE will be just as cool as this book). Little by little Aerin explores her true calling: dragon killer. Finding her way is not without its scars.  Aware that a hero doesn't need to win every battle unscathed, McKinley doesn't protect her heroine from all the dragon fire that comes her way. Julie, what did you think of THE HERO AND THE CROWN? 

Julie:  Do you know what arrived in the mail today?  Robin McKinley's THE BLUE SWORD.  Why?  Because as soon as I finished THE HERO AND THE CROWN, I needed to have its sister novel.  That's how much I love THE HERO AND THE CROWN.  I love its peaceful tone.  Much happens in the novel, but you can just sink down into the language and float along, enjoying the ride.  McKinley is a master of structure and pacing, too.  She tells us enough to let us know that there's an important moment coming, but then holds off a while, building the characters and their relationships and alluding to other momentous occasions, before delving into that first moment.  So we're intrigued from the start, and the character building is so compelling we never feel frustrated by the delay.  Were you also amazed by her weaving of storylines, Mia?  

M: You beat me to it, Julie! I totally want to snag a copy of THE BLUE SWORD from my local library. And yes, I agree with everything you said below. There's something about McKinley's writing (like Diana Wynne Jones's) that even from the very beginning makes you say: Oh, this is going to be good. And you settle yourself a little deeper into your couch as you go along. As you said, she has a way of weaving her story such that you can feel it building in your bones, and you can't wait to finally get to that scene that she's created for you to find. I love Aerin. I love her perseverance. I love that a lot of her success can be attributed to her patience and intelligence in addition to her bravery. I like that her relationship with her father is a bit like two people who are constantly pleasantly surprised by each other. What about you, Julie? 

J:  I love Aerin too.  I love how much she accomplishes through sheer courage and determination.  And I love how some of the problems that loom large for her as a child are shown later from a different perspective.  The book worked for me almost through and through.  I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll carefully say that I wasn't particularly compelled by a battle she has toward the end of the book with a person of great power.  And I don't think romantic scenes are McKinley's forte.  Do you agree, Mia? 

M: I don't think McKinley is a fan of gooey love or love scenes. This is something I see in many of her novels. While love is present, it's not always a passionate love.  It's more typically a companionate love, different from that presented in other fantasy novels. Then again, considering most of her heroines have things to do like battle dragons, the kind of love she depicts is most realistic for her heroines' lives, don't you think? I don't see Aerin swooning over anyone; I see her finding love through respect and admiration. As for the final battle, I agree...but...ah! How to discuss without spoiling anything? But I can say the battle she has around the middle of the book left me at the edge of my seat!

J:  Yes, that middle battle is terrifying!  And I appreciate that McKinley has no interest in gooey love scenes.  Her books certainly don't need them.  But I think she errs a tiny bit too far on the side of emotional reserve, or denial, for her heroines until quite late in the day.  (I've now finished THE BLUE SWORD--which I can send to you, by the way--and I think the same is true there.)  Regardless, such a quibble!  I think I'm on to McKinley's BEAUTY next.  And you, Mia?  Any other complaints about THE HERO AND THE CROWN, large or small?

M: No worries, I'll get the BLUE SWORD from my local library since it's so close to me (just 6 blocks, I'm a lucky girl). I think aside from the battle scene we spoke of I have no other quibbles with the book! Let me know if you ever get to DEERSKIN (my fave and a bit intense). Now off you go, dear readers, to your local bookstore or library, to get yourselves THE HERO AND THE CROWN.

Ash

Ash by Malinda Lo

Marirosa Mia:  I’ve been in a bit of a fairytale retelling kick lately, most likely because the novel I’m writing is very fairytale-like, so I wanted to see how other writers have taken popular/iconic tales and made them their own. Enter Malinda Lo’s ASH, which had been sitting on my to-read pile since my friend Ames sent it to me.

When it was published in 2009, ASH was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Kirkus Best Book for Young Adults, and a William C. Morris Award YA Debut Award Finalist. Not too shabby for a retelling of Cinderella. But like I said before, if you’re going to retell a classic – especially one that’s already been retold so many times before – you better make it your own. Malinda Lo did just that.

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, she often finds herself curled up on her mother’s grave, waiting for the fairies of folk tales to come steal her away. It’s during one of these nights that she meets Sidhean, a fairy, who though often cold and mysterious elicits strong emotions of want and need in Ash. And though it is common for humans to be enchanted by the fey, it is clear that Ash is not normal and that her feelings for Sidhean may be a small part enchantment and a large part loneliness. Soon Sidhean becomes one of her only friends and allies. Though Ash asks Sidhean to take her away over and over again, Sidhean refuses, declaring that Ash ‘is not ready yet’ and returning her home.  

Then one day Ash meets Kaisa, the King's royal Huntress, who makes Ash…well, feel something, something different from what she feels with Sidhean. Not need or want but the return of life itself, as only love can. As Kaisa teaches Ash how to hunt and enjoy her brief moments away from her family, her heart begins to thaw, though she wasn’t aware it was frozen in the first place. The sweet love between Kaisa and Ash is so well written that every time Kaisa and Ash met my heart skipped just a bit at the possibilities that lay ahead for them.

My only disappointment was in Clara – the nice stepsister – who didn’t feel as fleshed out and necessary at times; every time she was introduced I thought, ‘Oh yeah, her.’

ASH is delicate and entrancing, filled with the sort of pure love (and I don’t mean pure in the sweet, clean sort of way, but in the so well done that how could these two not be together way) that brings a smile to your face. Malinda Lo has taken the bones/tropes of Cinderella and her little glass slipper and laced it with culture and folk tales that give it a sense of place and time while still making it new and fresh. Lo’s writing creates a haunting tone like a heavy mist that rolls through a dense forest carrying with it myth and history. I very much enjoyed this retelling and will dive into my pile once again to see what other gems I have yet to discover.