Author Spotlight: Mindy McGinnis

Writing is hard work! For years, I aspired to become a writer. I graduated from The Institute of Children's Literature. Yet, I always seemed to taper off in the middle of a novel. Then in 2009, I discovered the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Every November, participants attempt to write 50,000 words. When you target word count, it silences the inner critic. Finally, with NaNoWriMo, I completed 9 manuscripts. The organization only started keeping statistics in 2011. My NaNoWriMo account says I wrote 426,131 words during my final 7 attempts. 

In the beginning, I wrote 5 young adult novels. Despite requests from several agents and publishers, I could not find a home for my Christian YA. Unless your name is Melody Carlson, it can be a hard sell. Thus, I appreciate how challenging it is to write and publish young adult fiction. In my quest to become a better writer, I read a variety of books. Now, I hope to reach out to several talented writers to learn from them. Last fall, I contacted Mindy McGinnis to talk about her books.  

(Photo property of Mindy McGinnis author website)

Mindy McGinnis writes a wide range of young adult fiction (post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, mystery, fantasy, and contemporary). I love that she is down-to-earth and approachable. In 2016, she won an Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel with her book, A Madness So Discreet. Although I have only read two of her novels at this point, I believe her work taps into universal truths. She tackles tough issues and brings them to the forefront for teen awareness and discussion. 

Because her book, Heroine, portrays drug abuse with raw honesty, she has battled censorship. This book hit close to home for me (discover more about this book and read my review here). Despite being a tough read, I'm so glad she is shining a light on this problem. I pray her efforts might save other impressionable young people from venturing down that slippery slope.

Next, I read Be Not Far From Me. I'm always up for a survival read. I appreciate McGinnis' ability to suck you in and draw you into the world of the character. She also excels at nailing a genuine and unique teen voice. (Find my review, with story details, by clicking here.) I'm grateful for her willingness to answer my questions about the novels and about writing.

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Heroine

Q1: This book struck a chord with me, as my son’s prescription for a sport-related injury was a stepping stone on his journey into deeper drug use. In your opinion, why is this an important book for teens to read?

Mindy: It's important because it illustrates how addiction actually works. When you're writing for teens, many people want any type of risky behavior to have immediate negative consequences. A character that does drugs needs to wake up the next morning in some sort of horrible physical condition, or have a terrifying experience. That's not how it works. People do drugs because they make you feel good. It's that simple. The lessons come later, and they're hard.

Q2: Tough issues are hard to write about. In my review of What a Wave Must Be, I complained that the graphic urgent reality of the topic of cluster suicides led me to feel like a test-dummy. Did you struggle to balance making the story believable, accurate, and true without overkilling the subject for the reader?

Mindy: Nope. I don't struggle with anything. I write what needs to be written in order to accurately convey the material. That being said, I am careful - especially with this book - not to be writing a manual or a how-to. You never actually see Mickey shoot up, and the method she uses to crush her oxy earlier in the book would no longer work, as Purdue Pharma changed the formula of OxyContin when they realized people were crushing it to snort.

Q3: In responding to my letter thanking you for writing Heroine, you wrote: “Addiction is truly heinous and can happen to anyone; none of us are immune, and falling prey to it does not make a person weak or evil. That is the message I hope to convey with Heroine, and I believe it is making an impact... although not always in the ways I had hoped. Heroine is, and continues to be, my most banned book. Many schools have been forced to remove it from their libraries, which is where it needs to be in order for the message to be available to those who need it most.” Do you look back with a desire to change anything?

Mindy: Nope. Wouldn't change a thing. This book isn't hurting anyone, but I know it's helped many.

Q4: In my limited experience with launching a book into the world, I have struggled with disappointment at not being able to get my book into the hands that would most appreciate and benefit from my words. How does banning your book make you feel as an author who believes in your message and the story you want to convey? How do you fight discouragement over this?

Mindy: I don't really have emotions about it, to be honest. A lot of people ask me how I feel, and that's not really applicable. The real question is - what do I think and what am I going to do about it? I think that there are plenty of teachers, librarians, and advocacy groups out there doing good work to make sure kids have the books they need, and I support them. What I'm going to do about it is keep writing what I write, how I write it.

Q5: Many banned books are ones I'm grateful to have experienced, despite content I might not enjoy or agree with. For example, I adored Mark Haddon’s skill at voice in his book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. While I didn’t appreciate the excessive use of expletives, I overlooked it because there were redeeming qualities within the book. Indeed, as a parent, I want to know what books my kids are reading, so I can discuss with them any difficult topics where I want my perspectives on the table. I skimmed the Heroine discussion questions you provide for educators (or parents who wish to read this important book and discuss it with their teen before this ugly issue rears its head). I appreciate how you attempt to lead the reader to see preconceived notions they might have already formed about drugs and addicts who are hooked on them. What is the foremost thing you hope young people gain from the process of reading and discussing Heroine?

Mindy: Addiction can happen to anyone. It cuts across all demographics. A person can feel like they've got their situation under control, but in reality, they are spiraling. A greater awareness of how addiction begins, and how quickly risky behaviors can turn into bad habits is what I hope readers take away, along with empathy for addicts. We all have someone in our lives that is either living the experience, or has come out on the other side. Starting from a point of knowing that they are not weak or evil is key.

Be Not Far From Me

Q1: One thing I appreciate (from the two books of yours I have read and from others I’ve read blurbs for) is your ability to branch out into different subjects and styles. You are not a formulaic writer. That’s fantastic. What would you say helps you attack different subjects and styles? Or, to what do you attribute your skill at approaching different content with each book?

Mindy: I'm a really terrible person to answer craft questions, because I don't know the answers. I have no formal training in writing, and I have no specific process or method for any book. I just sit down and write the story as it comes to me. No plotting. No planning. Just go.

Q2: The main character in Be Not Far From Me, Ashley Hawkins, is a tough, self-reliant, hardened individual. How do you, as a writer, get inside the heads of your characters to pull off a distinct and effective voice, as you’ve done for Ashley?

Mindy: I don't really know how to answer that one either. I just hear them.

Q3: One of my favorite parts of the book is where Ashley does an about-face (for her) and simply says, “I need help.” The character has progressed through her trial and become a better person for it. Do you outline as you write, in order to polish the story arc, or are you more of a pantser, plowing through and then going back into the manuscript to hone and clarify that arc of development?

Mindy: I'm completely organic. I don't typically know what's going to happen in a story, or even who is going to live until the end, or who the "bad guy" is if it's a mystery. I just write. It's a simple approach, but it works for me. Again, any type of craft question like character development or arc, is just not something I even think about.

Q4: Toward the middle of the story, we catch glimpses of Ashley’s exposure to religious beliefs at the camp she attended. Indeed, it surprised me when I learned the title for the book comes from Ashley’s interaction with (no, memorization of) Psalm 22. While Davey Beet's instruction at the camp teaches her survival skills, she also learns survival skills through biblical instruction. On page 156, as Ashley recites Psalm 22 to herself, she muses, “I don’t know if I’m saying it because I think there might actually be a God to listen or if I’m just distracting myself, but… I keep going.” What would you say is your perspective? Do you believe God is listening or do you believe Ashley merely took strength from reciting the comforting words of scripture?

Mindy: What I think doesn't matter - what Ashley thinks matters. And I can't really say that I have access to all of her interiority. I think the camp was a good experience for her, and she drew comfort from it.

Q5: As much as I’ve read about prizing a good beginning, I believe a satisfying end leaves you with completion and a jumping off point for taking the story further. You accomplish this in both books. At the end of Heroine, the reader must decide what Mickey picked up to use later (allowing the reader to determine the course of the rest of the story). The end of Be Not Far From Me is beautiful: “I’m going to find Davey Beet. I’m going to bring home the boy who showed me how to survive. Then I’m going to live every day remembering that’s what we’re all doing, each in our own way. But nobody wants to do it alone. I hike up my pack and square my shoulders. And I go back into the woods.” Some writers say they write the ending before even starting the beginning. Is that true for you? Did these endings come to you prior to the beginnings? How much work did you do to hone your beginning and ending passages?

Mindy: Again, no. I have no idea how the books are going to end. I just write them. I really don't do a ton of work or honing. I'm fortunate that good beginnings and good endings organically happen for me. I'm not really doing the work, I'm just writing down what's being channeled to me.

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I wish to express a giant thank you to Mindy for taking her time to answer my questions. If you are seeking gritty and real young adult literature, Mindy's books offer honesty and authenticity, great world-building and character development. If you are a writer, seeking instruction, Mindy offers expert advice on her blog, Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire. Subscribers receive a free synopsis writing guide. Mindy also offers editorial services and query critiques. 

Book Review: Be Not Far From Me

Be Not Far from Me is the second Mindy McGinnis book I've read. I was as swept up in the story this time as I was in her previous book. She has an impressive skill for sucking a reader in and making them want further details to know how things will turn out for the characters. This is not a Christian YA book, yet the title comes from a passage in Psalm 22. It was fitting and is my prayer in my life as well. The inside cover blurb says: "Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a compelling and harrowing story about survival and one girl's attempt to endure the impossible." This book, about being up against great odds, was riveting!

Ashley Hawkins is partying in the Smokies with her friends when she comes upon her boyfriend in a compromising position with another girl. Drunk and delirious with rage, she flees the scene and ends up falling into a ravine and injuring her foot. Now she is miles from help (as if she were a person who would accept the help of others, ha), and wandering alone in the threatening woods. She must endure countless challenges (at one point, she wakes to find an opossum chewing on her diseased foot - yikes) in order to survive. Her best hope, she believes, is to channel the wisdom she learned from her mentor, Davey. But Davey went into the woods and never came out. This isn't a comforting thought in her precarious situation.

I am impressed by this author's ability to secure and hold the reader fast. Her writing makes you forget that there is a puppet-master manipulating the strings of the dance before you. You become so deeply involved that you forget there is a writer at all (a mark of a good one). While I winced at some scenes, I never looked away. Ashley's voice of narration is unique. She is quite a character and her strength, while it sometimes gets her in trouble, carries her through tremendous obstacles. This was an entertaining and educational read. Still, I hope I never find myself in the woods, reaching back in my mind to pull forth the wisdom Ashley exhibits.

Book Review: Heroine

Several months ago, I compiled a list of Indiana authors I'd like to meet. When September promised a trip to Ohio, I made a list for Ohio authors, as well. I initially sought authors I was familiar with: Margaret Peterson Haddix, Celeste Ng, Sharon Draper (author of Out of My Mind, a MG novel recently made into a Disney movie), and Thrity Umrigar. But, I looked up a few who lived nearer to my Ohio destination to see if I might want to read a book and seek the author. This is how I stumbled upon Mindy McGinnis' book, Heroine. I sought it despite knowing it might hit too close to home.

Mickey Catalan is an athlete with an injured leg (hmm, familiar). Her doctor prescribes an opioid (hmm, familiar). Thus begins a descent into addiction (hmm, familiar). The story is heart-wrenching but full of truth. McGinnis paints the real deal: the deceptions, the thievery, the justifications, the tolerance build-up, and the dependence. Mickey comes to believe the drug is her only answer. She doesn't see herself as a junkie until the evidence is too plain to ignore.

I appreciated the trigger warning at the outset, very important. What a great idea to open each chapter with an addiction-related term. Mickey's struggle tears at the reader's heart. It is a slippery slope. I'm not sure why some go down it and others are unaffected. I took an opioid after some of my surgeries and never struggled. Unfortunately, my son (like Mickey) was not so lucky.

Sadly, Mindy McGinnis was heading off for a book tour during the dates I was in Ohio. She kindly offered to answer my questions via email anyway. I hope to highlight her author interview in a post early next year. Heroine is an important book for teens to read to increase awareness of the allure of addictive drugs. We need to be more careful in prescribing drugs that ease pain, but in the end bring no end of pain when the afflicted individual leans into addiction. I cannot say whether my son would have spiraled into drug addiction anyway, but I'm sure for many, it is the initial prescription for an athletic injury that leads to this path of bondage and despair. 

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Hunger Games was riveting. I owned (thanks to my sister's gift to my non-reading teen) and read every book in the series. When The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes arrived on the scene, Sean and I were both eager to read it. Thus, I asked for the giant hardback book for my birthday and Bryce obliged. Sadly, years passed. While both of us attempted to give it a start, we didn't get far. Now, with the movie out, I decided I would attempt it in a different format. I checked out the audio version from our library.

The book is long (528 pages) and winding. The characters felt inconsistent. One minute my sympathies lay with Coriolanus Snow, while in the next, I didn't care for him. The length of the book put me off to begin with, and kept me from completing it, as well. The audio version is 14 CDs long. With Trevor's car out of commission, I wasn't the only one driving, so my husband had to pause the CD when he drove. Perhaps, given the season of snow and ice, I wasn't driving as frequently either. Whatever the reason, my interest was minimal. I continued to listen, but missed the absorbing nature of the original books. I tired of the constant battle between "is this character a good guy or a bad guy?"

To be honest, I don't think I enjoyed it enough to even bother with the movie. If the library acquires it, and I'm lost for something to do some weekend, I may check it out. But I can't muster the desire to see it or experience this tale again. The books still highlight telling social commentary. Our society doesn't hold human life with any more esteem than the Capitol. It isn't a stretch to think we might be capable of similar atrocities occurring right beneath our noses, and few have the guts to protest. 

Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Drawn by a movie preview in my Facebook feed, I checked out Jennifer E. Smith's book, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. The lead character looked familiar. It turns out she played the lead in the movie version of Five Feet Apart. She's an attractive, spunky gal, and quite charming. The Love at First Sight movie sounded appealing, but I always prefer to read the book first. The book was delightful. Yet, I was skeptical the movie version would be as wholesome as the book.

Hadley Sullivan knows it will be a terrible day. After all, she's traveling to London to attend her father's wedding. He couldn't settle for abandoning his family. He had to seal the deal by marrying someone else, someone Hadley has never even met. When she misses her flight, she must wait for the next available one. But a British boy named Oliver ends up sitting next to her. Those four lousy minutes that made her late may just change her life...

As the inside cover tease reads: "Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it."

The dialogue is fun. The characters are endearing. I'm so grateful the author didn't follow the way of modern YA by muddying the waters with a tryst in the airplane lavatory. No, this is a clean and enjoyable romance I would feel safe handing to any teen reader. I'm thrilled I encountered that advertisement.

Here's the movie trailer that lured me in:

As for the movie, I am impressed! No, more than that, blown away. Not only is it clean (momentary exception*), but it enhances Oliver's storyline in such a way that I think it outpaces the actual book. In fact, I far prefer the way Oliver's story plays out in the movie. It holds more substance and feeling. 

I rarely laud a movie over the book. This movie gutted me. I sat sobbing on my couch (and this, moments after my husband heard me cracking up from a clever line). The movie was magical and moving (so much so, I watched it a second time). It nailed the essence of Smith's novel.

Exception*: In the movie, when Hadley phones her father in the middle of the night to say she missed her flight, he is lying in bed next to his pending bride. Is it any wonder our young people see no hesitation for sex preempting, or outside of, the holy commitment of matrimony? 

 

Book Review: Five Feet Apart

Two of my friends have grandchildren who battle cystic fibrosis. I knew it brings difficulty in breathing because of mucus that concentrates in the lungs. Still, I didn't know much about the disease. This young adult novel, Five Feet Apart, by Rachael Lippincott, will go far to raise awareness. The book has won several awards. It earned the Goodreads Choice Winner for Best Young Adult fiction in 2019 and the YALSA 2020 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Crippled by perilous lungs, Stella Grant meticulously follows her regimen. She avoids any known contaminants to keep herself viable on the lung transplant list. When she encounters Will Newman at the hospital, she knows she should run the other way. Yet, she's determined to break through his callous disregard for his cystic fibrosis. All Will wants to do is unplug from all the machines and live his life with abandon. As their relationship develops, it sweeps them closer and closer emotionally, yet they must always remain six feet apart physically. With so much restricting them, they assume they can afford to steal one foot of distance from the general constraint.

This story sucks the reader in. I learned a great deal about this disease and the many challenges it presents. My heart goes out to these young people and their constant battle against lungs that betray them. The authors nailed the character development and the plot pacing. At first, I didn't care for Will. His arrogant personality, abrasive tone, and foul language turned me off. But I came around to like him. I hung on every word when Stella's life hung in the balance. The book has a somewhat happy ending, but it contains cautionary content along the way.

After finishing the book, I located the movie version (which came out in 2019). While the ending is different, I enjoyed the movie. It is a tear-jerker and tugs at the emotions more than the book. It has a positive message: take time to show your love to others with the powerful power of touch. They mention sex several times in the movie. Although, the closest Will and Stella get to this is a scene where they strip down to their underwear in front of one another. Still, parents should know of this compromising content. Apparently, a sequel for the movie is in the works. It will be called All This Time.  

Book Review: Smoke

I've been attempting to entice Sean to read The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Its premise is intriguing. What if you lived in a world where every man's thoughts presented aloud, unbidden? In Smoke, by Dan Vyleta, the reader gets a similarly captivating premise. What if you lived in a world where every evil thought and action caused your body to produce smoke? Sin is visible and undeniable. Who needs a polygraph test? Every lie told causes the body to dispense smoke into the air. Individuals smolder with their anger, lust, and greed. As I said, a very captivating premise.

The author (no doubt attempting to increase stakes and build suspense) creates quite the chasm between the rich and the poor. In his microcosm, the aristocracy does not smoke (albeit through illegal intervention). They appear virtuous, while the riff-raff exude smoke and soot, because sin obviously overwhelms them. Two wealthy boarding school boys set out, with a girl they both desire, to discover the truth behind smoke. The back cover copy offers endless drama:

"A desperate chase. Revolutionaries and secret police. Religious fanatics and coldhearted scientists. Murder. A London filled with danger and wonder... Unexpected villains and unexpected heroes. Cool reason versus passion. Rich versus poor. Right versus wrong, though which is which isn't clear. This is the world of Smoke, a narrative tour de force, a tale of Dickensian intricacy and ferocious imaginative power, richly atmospheric and intensely suspenseful."

From the outset, this idea allured. Unfortunately, although intriguing, I cannot endorse this author's worldview. I believe we are all sinners in need of a Savior. We all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) This author doesn't even allow God into the picture. What's worse, he ridicules righteousness (or any attempt to choose holiness over sin) and presents it as the problem. Discipline, or virtuous living, is a trap. Characters who seek the unsullied or aspire to holiness end up going mad. At one point, the book actually states, "Our problem is not smoke, but what we think it means."

This author presents a whole novel to young people in defense of sin. Right living stunts the senses, deprives the individual. No, in his mind, one should embrace sin. This is just what we need for our young people today: another license for sin and vice. Indeed, I'm done with modern YA literature. Thick with agenda. Denying the existence or necessity of God. Presenting worlds where right is wrong and wrong is right, where good is bad and bad is good. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." What a timely Scripture verse! I'm all for a Dickensian tale. Sadly, this one doesn't stand up to (or for) the light.

Book Review: A Heart in a Body in the World

I first encountered Deb Caletti while researching comparable titles for a YA novel I wrote. My novel highlighted a girl who battles panic attacks and social anxiety, so I picked up Caletti's book, The Nature of Jade. She captured the essence of a growing problem for young women and wove it with truths about life. Next, I found a copy of Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. I read it while on my European excursion. As soon as I learned of A Heart in a Body in the World, I added it to my ever-growing list. I've never been able to run, but loved Wendelin Van Draanen's book about a runner, The Running Dream. Far easier to read about runners than to join them on the road. 

This book, A Heart in a Body in the World, ended up being a YA version of Harold Fry's journey (a favorite of mine, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce). Both Harold and Annabelle set out with no intention and end up with a quest and a following. Both are running to something and from something. The benefit of Annabelle's trek is that it occurs on my own soil and crosses my own paths. It was thrilling to read the section of her run through Illinois, since I hold fond memories of many of the mentioned places. Apart from identifying with locations, I also identified with the emotions in this book. Trauma ripples into every aspect of life and often steals our ability to respond rationally to similar scenarios, robbing a person twice, first with the initial offence and then of opportunities for normalcy. Annabelle knows that not all boys are evil, but her experience with one casts a long shadow on all further experiences.

Interspersed in the magnificent storytelling (forgot there was an author - the mark of a truly talented author), Annabelle shares facts about hearts. Each list of tangible facts ends with a truth about hearts illustrated in the story. Amazingly, broken hearts mend. As Annabelle runs, she regains her footing and becomes a symbol for the healing a nation needs after tragedy. This is a powerful and timely tale, full of grace and truth.

Book Review: The Temptation of Adam

Given the changes in the YA book climate, I've been avoiding most new YA books. I don't wish to go down avenues publishers seem to believe everyone wants to explore. Finding a clean, uplifting YA book seems as unlikely as opening my son's door to see a pristine room. Maybe I should open my son's door and give a look. This realistic YA novel offers hard-hitting truth about life, faces down the intense challenges of addiction, and yet remains wholesome. I hear angels singing at the rarity of it all.

The Temptation of Adam (clever title!) presents a story that is certainly surging through our youth population at the moment. Adam Hawthorne is reeling from his expulsion from school. The author does an excellent job of holding reader attention because we don't discover the cause of his expulsion until mid-way through the novel. The implosion of his family might explain any kind of errant behavior. His mother left and his adored older sister felt she should go with her. Adam struggles to get along with his distant father. It seems all the man cares about is an unsuccessful attempt to get his wife back. Thus, are we really surprised that Adam has been swept into the maelstrom of porn addiction? People aren't safe. Porn seems safe. Alas, it comes with a price tag.

This novel offers so much: intense conflict, desperation, romance, insecurity, and - best of all - hope. I believe this is a very important book for young men to read. Porn is so readily available to our sons. We can take steps to prepare them for the temptation (see my book review of an outstanding tool, Good Pictures, Bad Pictures), but it is up to them to resist the lure of relationship-damaging lies. They are being fed images that leave them craving more, while it sucks their soul into the downward spiral. The author handled this difficult topic well and reminded teen readers that they are not only "not alone" but also not defined by their addiction. Well done, Dave Connis! Well done! 

Book Review: Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy - Highly Recommend

How sad I'll be when I have no more unread Gary D. Schmidt books! What an outstanding author! He taps the heart of things and communicates significant truths packed in the garments of story. Published in 2004, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy is an earlier book, but just as powerful as The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, Orbiting Jupiter, and Trouble. Indeed, it was a Printz Honor book and a 2005 Newbery Honor book. Thankfully, I have a few more Schmidt books to read if I can lay my hands on them (at least one of them is available in audio form on Hoopla).

I had to read bits of this aloud to my boys because I knew they would sympathize with the protagonist,  Turner Buckminster. After a horrific introduction to his new life as the minister's son in Phippsburg, Maine, all Turner wants to do is run away. He doesn't fit in a town full of bullying peers and cantankerous elderly neighbors. The church elders are eager to clear out a shanty town on a nearby island, to make room for a lucrative tourist resort, and hope to garner Reverend Buckminster's support. Lizzie Bright lives on that island and becomes Turner's only friend. But it is 1912, and others frown on his associations with a young black girl. (Indeed, what a timely tale! If we all worked on building cross-cultural relationships, we might bridge the racial divide.)

The characters are endearing. Turner's struggles are excruciating. The plot pacing perfect! While this is a sad book (death occurs), it also speaks of hope and redemption. What a wonderful piece of historical fiction, spurring universal inspiration to seek love and justice. Schmidt proves, once again, that he weaves wonder in the ordinary struggles of life. Perhaps it appeals to me more as a pastor's kid, but I think it will hold equal appeal to other readers and would be a superb selection for teachers seeking relevant literature to discuss race and justice in classrooms today.

Book Review: A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World

I really enjoyed the audio experience of A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World. It was an engaging story and one I thought, until I got to the final disc, I would recommend to my youngest. I will probably still give it to him, however I might wait a year or two because the end of the story has some mature content. Apart from that and a faith-deriding tone, however, it was an outstanding tale. Since Sean is a dog-lover, I know he will relish the story of a boy desperate to retrieve his stolen dog.

Griz lives in an apocalyptic future in an isolated location with only his small family for company. He loves books, so he's read about the world of the past, crowded with cars and people and computers. But it is all foreign to him. Still, he was content in his little slice of world, until a man came and stole his dog. Without even counting the cost, he chases after the man, intent upon retrieving what belongs to him.

The voice was so well done. The pacing, although draggy in bits, was overall sound. But, best of all, the twists in the tale toward the end took me totally by surprise. Perhaps I should have expected them, but they shocked me. I would love to read this one with Sean, but I doubt he'd tolerate a read-aloud. After all, he's almost a teenager. I'll be eager to see if he appreciates it as much as I did.

Book Review: Warcross

I didn't realize that Warcross, by Marie Lu, is the first in a two-book series. Thankfully, however, the second book is already available, and I have put my name on my library's hold list. Seventeen magazine bills Warcross as The Hunger Games meets Minecraft. I think readers who enjoyed Ernest Cline's Ready Player One will enjoy Lu's virtual reality gaming series (although, of the two, Cline's is better).

Emika Chen is down on her luck. Her father's death left her with his gambling debts and illegal hacking led to a ban on her computer use. Thus, she is scrabbling a living as a bounty hunter. None of that can stop her from watching the worldwide sensational Warcross games. But, when she hacks into the game, attempting to steal a power-up, she enters a world of even higher stakes. Instead of being arrested, they fly her to Tokyo and offer her a job. But who can she trust in this world of virtual reality?

Emika is a colorful character with rainbow-dyed hair and an armload of tattoos. Her spunky grit draws the reader into her plight. Though the protagonist is a girl, the virtual reality gaming aspect of the book will suck boys in equally. The fast-paced action keeps you turning pages. What drives the young prodigy Hideo Tanaka, developer of Warcross and the Neurolink virtual reality glasses? Who opposes his developments and triumphs? Can Emika find the opponent and eliminate him?

I'm not much of a gamer, so I skimmed through the gaming details. I tolerated the romance aspect (thankfully none graphic, though one scene involved the couple swimming in the raw). Still, I followed Emika's journey with interest.  Indeed, the book provided plenty to think about concerning our use of technology. Why do we give up our privacy in order to participate? Are we so sucked into the current rage we ignore inherent dangers? Is virtual reality an enhancement or a threat? Who monitors the ethical ramifications of new technology? So many questions to ponder.

When I came to the cliffhanger ending, I recognized the book left more questions than answers. The final reveal was significant enough to garner my curiosity for the second installment. I can imagine this book as a movie, but could only find information on Lu's Legend book. The acknowledgements mentioned a film agent, so perhaps Warcross will one day be available in movie form. In the meantime, I will happily invest a few more hours in the sequel, Wildcard.

Book Review: The Vanishing Stair

Oh, the vanishing enthusiasm for the Truly Devious series! I enjoy many aspects of the story line. I love the idea of an exclusive boarding school for gifted young people. The murder mystery from the past, combined with the current slew of deaths, provides plenty of curiosity. I like Stevie, a sleuthing socially awkward girl. I'm just not reeled in by the other characters (moreover, the pronoun they/them for one character simply prompted confusion and awkward sentence construction). Indeed, despite my enjoyment of the basic story, I ended up feeling dissatisfied with the book.

Stevie Bell is fixated on the Truly Devious kidnapping/murder mystery that occurred at the school in 1936. She has dissected every angle and element. At the opening of this book, The Vanishing Stair, Stevie is desperate to return to the school, desperate enough even to accept the aide of the odious (and strongly Trumpesque) Senator Edward King. Once she returns, with the promise to keep an eye on the Senator's son, Stevie acquires her dream job - assistant to an author writing a book about the case. Now, instead of focusing on boring homework, she invests most of her time digging around in the school's attic in search of further clues.

While this book reveals some elements of the mystery, it still leaves the reader hanging. So many unanswered questions: what's up with the odd-ball David? why the house fire at the end of this book? how did Stevie figure out the murderer from one tiny clue? (The reader is privy to a complete explanation in the flashbacks to the '30s.) Alas, I doubt I have enough interest left to invest in a third book. It felt too much like the author dragged out an adequate story into a lengthier one in order to make it a series. The puzzles are not quite as puzzling (the solution to the riddle about the stair is disappointing) and the characters are not as entertaining. What appeared to be truly devious in the first book, turns out to be less significant and key in the second.

Book Review: Monday's Not Coming

If you wish to improve your writing ability (as I do), it is best to read what is popular in your chosen genre (for me, YA). However, the popular selections in YA today often make me uncomfortable (filled with questionable content). This book, Monday's Not Coming, won't appeal to everyone. It is gritty and raw. It is, as Laurie Halse Anderson calls it, "a mesmerizing, punch-in-the-gut story." Despite plenty of cursing and references to sexual behavior, I couldn't stop turning pages. I was desperate to learn the outcome. Although told by an African-American narrator, the story is important for all people and races because it treats a societal ill we cannot afford to ignore. And that is the heart of this tale: society ignoring the signs.

Claudia Coleman returns from her summer away at her grandmother's house eager to hook up with her lifelong best friend, Monday Charles. It seems unusual that Monday's phone has been disconnected. When her friend fails to show up on the first day of school (her favorite place of sanctuary), it convinces Claudia something is wrong. Yet, she cannot get a straight answer from Monday's mother or her sister, April. Monday must know how much Claudia depends on her to navigate the troubled waters of middle school. Why would she abandon Claudia to fight these battles on her own? Moreover, why won't anyone listen or help her find her best friend? Is April right? Did Monday hide her true nature from Claudia because she feared judgment and shame? Is something wrong, or does Monday merely no longer wish to be her friend?

This hard-hitting YA novel paints a painful portrait of fierce friendship and a terrifyingly believable account of a tween who slips through the cracks. Tiffany D. Jackson provides a compelling voice and well-developed characters. Her writing is seamless. Her pacing is, for the most part, precise and powerful (I occasionally wished it would get to the outcome faster).

While difficult to read and outside my comfort zone, I don't regret the time invested. I might even consider attempting Jackson's debut novel, Allegedly. That novel received equally high praise. Kirkus Review and Publishers Weekly labelled it "well conceived and executed," "searing and true," and "absorbing and exceptional." If you can look past the language and moral issues (necessary to portray realistic characters), this book provides a thought-provoking, socially-significant read.

Book Review: Life Inside My Mind

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 31.9 % of U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 18 suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. That's almost a third of the teens in that age group. To me, this sounds like an epidemic problem. I was already aware of this statistic because I have referred to it in several query letters attempting to pitch my young adult novel, The Probability Code. Indeed, adolescent anxiety has been on my radar ever since a relative of mine began to suffer significantly.

When I picked up Life Inside My Mind, I was hoping to find a title I could pass along to my afflicted family member. The book provides a collection of essays from 31 young adult authors who bare their souls to increase awareness and to provide solidarity and suggestions for those who suffer from anxiety. To be fully honest, I struggled with the intensity of the book. I've experienced chronic depression and panic attacks. Indeed, on a visit to The Indianapolis Children's Museum, the crowds and the crush set me hyperventilating. I had to seek out a small space near a window to calm myself and stave off a public panic attack.Yet after reading this book, I feel as if I have only stuck my little toe into the water, while these authors have crossed the ocean.

Every imaginable mental health issue is addressed. Various authors outline their personal struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, ADHD, depression, suicidal thoughts and actions, bipolar, drug and alcohol addictions, PTSD, and even a condition called Trichotillomania (compulsively pulling out one's hair or eyelashes). I was overwhelmed with their stories. Each new raw tale brought that conflicting battle one experiences when passing an accident on the road. I was deeply drawn to seeing the raw truth of their experience, but equally wanted to avert my eyes for fear the images might be seared into my memory, never to be washed away. And I agonized over this review.

While I certainly want to commend the authors for being so incredibly vulnerable and real, I'm concerned about teens who pick up this book. Will they feel even more overwhelmed than they already are? Will their anxiety increase when they read of the extremes of other life experiences? Do I want to add more anxiety to an already plagued mind? Several of the stories did just that to me. I was terrified by the tale of PTSD after the author was attacked twice in her own home. What if that happened to me? I was saddened by the sheer number of authors available to tell these harrowing tales. Our world is clearly messed up when 31 of our young adult authors can share such serious tales of woe. The drug use, the alcohol consumption, the dependency on prescriptions to alleviate symptoms (one author tells of being prescribed twelve times the average dose of Xanax).

In my head, I want to acknowledge that teens will feel heard and understood. They will be able to say, "See, someone else gets it. This is destroying my life and somebody else has walked the road before me." But, will teens take in the prescriptive advice to rest, eat well, exercise, stay clean, talk to someone, and get medical help? What can we do, as a society, to get our world back to the place where the most pressing problem for a teen was how to fill a boring weekend night? With cyber-bullying, school shootings, easy access to addictive substances like drugs, alcohol, and porn, why are we surprised that a third of our teens struggle with anxiety? We need to do more than build awareness. We need to combat the societal pressures increasing the numbers of the afflicted. And then I despair all the more, because it seems like we cannot go back to those idyllic days. We are destined for more pressures than we already know.

So, no. I won't be handing this book off to my beleaguered relative. I want to shield her from the troubled truths outlined in this book. While some of the authors tried to end on a hopeful note - indeed tried to tell young people that they are bigger than the demons lying to them and attacking them - many left me feeling quite hopeless. And clearly, our world is in a hopeless condition. The only hope I see comes through a relationship with God to cut through the garbage of this world and stand firm on legs that won't be crippled by addiction, attacked by anxiety, or paralyzed by apprehension. Those little voices saying "Take a pill, it will improve your mood ... have some casual sex, it will alleviate your isolation ... swig a drink, it will dull your senses" - they lie to our young people. The stories these authors tell of their personal experiences back this up.

Yes, the stigma of mental health issues needs to be broken. Yes, our young people are desperate for safety and security. Yes, there is always a benefit in sharing the truth of one's story. But, oh tread with caution. These are deep waters that threaten to engulf teens. How sad that hope is out there offering not only relief from the troubles of this life, but also eternal safety and security, and not a single author alluded to it. Instead, the reader is presented with 31 tales of attempts to relieve difficulties through drugs, alcohol, and behavioral modifications. Where sin and worldly pressures threaten to bind us and hold us hostage, please, Lord, set us free! We need another book; one that doesn't acknowledge that darkness lingers still, but one that triumphs over that darkness with the power of the light. That's the book I want for the troubled teen in my life.

Book Review: Orbiting Jupiter - Highly Recommend

I'm becoming a huge fan of two-time Newbery Honor-winning author, Gary D. Schmidt. He is a master at rendering a believable and engaging voice, presenting boy-friendly fare, creating tough characters who exude tenderness, and tapping into the depth of human experience. Moreover, you can always be assured a good laugh, sometimes immediately followed by tears.

If ever there was a book to cut through my recent reading malaise, Orbiting Jupiter fit the bill. What a profound story of the power of love! I devoured the book whole; of course, I was kind of a captive audience because we were on a car trip, but at 183 pages, the novel slips by fast. I proceeded to hand it off to my youngest, who then read it in a little over an hour. I think he was especially curious because I had been seated next to him quietly chuckling one minute and then full-out sobbing by the end.

Twelve-year-old Jack narrates the story of his parent's experience fostering 14-year-old Joseph Brook. Despite the social worker's clarification of the harsh realities (Joseph is a juvenile delinquent who almost killed a teacher and has already fathered a child), Jack's parents agree to take him on at their dairy farm. Jack doesn't expect to be sucked into Joseph's world, yet slowly begins to think of him as a brother. But can Jack's family assist Joseph in his quest to find his daughter, Jupiter?

I smiled when Sean leaned over to show me the laugh-out-loud funny bits. He knew full well what had previously tickled me. While Sean didn't cry at the ending, or think it was as phenomenal a book as I did, I know he appreciated Schmidt's ability to create characters that male readers will root for. He certainly got the message that you cannot judge a person based on a limited understanding of their past.

While some parents might hesitate to recommend this book because it treats the experience of a very young father, I believe Schmidt did a fantastic job of outlining the budding relationship that creates the child, without dwelling on sexual specifics. Moreover, just as in the previous Schmidt books I have read, he presents an edgy, rough character from a difficult background who highlights the presence of grace and redemption in the midst of the gritty realities of life. He inspires the reader to mete out forgiveness alongside responsibility and to recognize the beauty of life alongside some of the ugliness.

Here are my reviews recommending the other Gary D. Schmidt books I've read: The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, and Trouble. Schmidt is definitely one of my favorite authors.

Book Review: Where Things Come Back

I'm always on the look-out for boy-friendly fare, so when the Brightly Newsletter mentioned John Corey Whaley's Where Things Come Back, I placed the title on one of my endless lists. Although it was indeed written with young male readers in mind, I didn't care for it very much. I think, perhaps, I was most annoyed with the author's habit of shifting between third person and second person point of view. I bristled every time another paragraph started up with "When one is ..." or "When you are ..." followed by a present-tense description of what happens when the mind wanders and boys imagine zombie attacks, etc. It would have been better if it had simply continued on with third person past tense.

I also didn't quite care for the protagonist's propensity for coming up with possible book titles. The titles felt inane and useless. In addition, the book seemed to have an undercurrent of religious disbelief (mocking religion by pointing to a farcical character who clings to prophecies from the apocryphal Book of Enoch and is prompted to commit a heinous act). I couldn't get behind any of the characters and never felt invested in the story, yet I read on wanting to know whether or not the missing boy was found.

Where Things Come Back tells the story of a young teenager whose fifteen-year-old brother goes missing one day. The whole town seems more absorbed with the possible reappearance of an extinct woodpecker than with solving the mystery of Gabriel Witter's strange disappearance. The chapters weave back and forth between describing the despair of Cullen Witter and the fanaticism of Benton Sage (would-be-missionary) and Cabot Searcy (Book of Enoch devotee). Eventually the two parallel tales converge in one tragic event that explains where the plot has been heading all along.

The book received both the ALA's William C. Morris Debut Award and the Michael L. Printz /Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Obviously, other readers held a far higher opinion of the book. With few male-oriented YA novels available, I'm glad the author managed to secure these awards, but I doubt I'll recommend the title to any young male readers I know. I would actually recommend the other Whaley book I read for book club last year, Highly Illogical Behavior. That was a far better reading experience.

The cover above is the one on the library copy I read. I much prefer the second cover because of the rich blue and the words etched in the background of the bird.

Book Review: Trouble - Highly Recommend

The more I read Gary D. Schmidt's books, the more I fall in love with his writing. I highly recommended The Wednesday Wars, a fine piece of historical fiction, and Okay for Now, an outstanding example of voice mastery. I enjoyed this book, Trouble, every bit as much as those two previous offerings. I listened to the book in audio form and could not wait to begin my daily treadmill time so that I could continue with the story and find out what would happen to these delightful, vulnerable characters.

From the very first sentence when Henry's father tries to convince him that if you build your house far enough away from trouble, it will never find you, we know that trouble is destined to make an appearance in Henry's comfortable, secure life. It first shows up in an accident where a pickup truck, driven by a Cambodian immigrant, plows into his older brother Franklin. As the petals of grief unfold for the family, causing his father to avoid work, his mother to don a brave face, and his sister to retreat in silence to her room, Henry must work through his anger and forge a new path. That new path begins when he rescues a mangy dog from the sea.

With Black Dog at his side, Henry interprets his brother's one word utterance, "Katahdin," as an appeal for Henry to climb the steep mountain alone. Before the accident, Franklin was sure Henry couldn't make the climb. Now Henry is more than eager to prove himself and to flee a house shrouded with confusion and grief. But when Henry encounters the driver of the pickup along the way, he begins to realize that you cannot run from trouble.

I've been pondering how great authors unveil clues to a story a bit at a time so that the reader only slowly comes to understand the full dynamics of the truth. Schmidt does a stellar job of this. He has placed the clues expertly, with perfect pacing, so that the facts reveal not only deep truths about the story, but also deep truths about human experience. I highly recommend this novel and warn you that you just might feel a lump develop in your throat. At the same time, I know you will agree with the author's conclusion in the final chapter, when he says, "The world is trouble and grace. That is all there is."

As I think about this novel, I really wish that my son's teacher had selected this one instead of Monster, because it not only treats racial tensions, but it brings out the resilience of the human spirit and reveals the appearance of grace in the midst of trouble. It provides plenty of discussion-worthy topics and inspires the reader to reach for greatness. It metes out forgiveness alongside responsibility. Moreover, it does all of that without presenting anything that a parent might find controversial or undesirable for their student's consumption. It was, in my eyes anyway, a far superior choice.

Book Review: Monster

This wasn't a selection I normally would have picked out for myself, but it was thankfully a very quick read (Trevor was flabbergasted when I read it entirely in one afternoon). Trevor required a parent signature in order to read this assigned text for his 7th grade language arts class. I immediately thought, "What's in the book to make it controversial?" In the end, I signed the form to allow Trevor to read the book.

Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is an African American boy standing trial for participating in a robbery gone wrong that ended in murder. Although he didn't hold the gun or pull the trigger, he allegedly served as lookout man casing the store before the thugs entered. Steve decides to present his case, his trial, and his feelings by writing a play about the proceedings. Through his script, the reader experiences his fear and trembling while facing the consequences of wanting to appear tough on the street.

I suppose the teacher was concerned some parents might not appreciate this assigned book because it references some horrendous behaviors that take place in the prison. While nothing happens directly to Steve, he does overhear things. I talked with Trevor briefly about the sexual attacks that often take place in prisons. I'm not concerned about this reading material, but I can see how some parents might wish to shelter their tween or teen from such realities. I appreciated the teacher's effort to alert parents. It does provide discussion-worthy content. However, if I look at this selection from a teacher's perspective, I feel there are so many more deserving books out there to inspire our students and to move their hearts and souls. I'm not sure it would have made the cut if I'd been in charge.

Indeed - stay tuned for my next book review post - a YA book that I feel would have been a better choice to prompt discussion about racial tensions in a far more productive and edifying manner.

Book Review: Truly Devious

I recognized this author's name from her book called 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I knew I'd enjoy that one because it was an epistolary novel about England. This one, however, was billed as a murder mystery. I was intrigued. Alas, it was only after I secured the book and glanced ahead to see how many pages were in the whole that I realized it was the first book in a series. Generally, I like to read series books only once the entire series is made available. I'm not patient enough for the endless waiting to know how the story line is resolved. As expected, this one ends with an open-ended clue of more to come. I will have to wait out the next installment (Truly Devious only came out on January 16, 2018 - I might have been the first library patron to read it).

Stevie Bell is a devoted fan of mysteries and true crime stories. In fact, the only reason she's at the famous Ellingham Academy (a private school in Vermont where qualifying students attend for free) is due to her intense desire to solve the crime that occurred on the grounds some eighty years before. Back in 1936, the founder's wife and daughter were mysteriously kidnapped. At the same time, a student at the school disappeared. While the bodies of the wife and student were found, the daughter's whereabouts remain unsolved. Stevie is sure that if she can get closer to the evidence (including the death threat riddle sent shortly prior to the crime), she will prove her detective chops and solve the case. Sadly, before she can solve that crime, another one occurs on the grounds and Stevie herself witnesses a troubling further riddle. Has the anonymous murderer who goes by "Truly Devious" struck again?

As School Library Journal proclaims, "Fans of puzzles, boarding school stories, and true crime will tear through this book and love every minute." I also agree with author John Green, who calls it "compulsively readable." While I didn't fall in love with any other character besides the protagonist, I was certainly swept into the tale. The writing felt absolutely effortless, almost like the story was dictated by some external force. Every sentence lures the reader in further. I did have a bit of trouble keeping the many characters straight, but the author managed the time hops quite well (she jumps, without any difficulties whatsoever, from a story of murder set in the 30s to a present-day cast of characters exploring the murder as a cold case). That is saying something.

The sad thing? I'm left hanging, wondering about the many clues uncovered. Plus, because the story is so intricate, I have a feeling when the next installment finally comes out, I'll have to reread this first bit to keep the many characters, clues, and contexts straight. At this point, I'm a fish on a hook. I feel powerless to fight against the line reeling me in.